'Salman Khan offered blank cheque to Bishnoi community,' says Lawrence Bishnoi's cousin

In a surprising twist to the longstanding feud between Bollywood actor Salman Khan and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Ramesh Bishnoi—Lawrence’s cousin—has claimed that Khan once tried to appease the Bishnoi community with a blank cheque after the 1998 blackbuck poaching incident.

The incident, which involved the hunting of a blackbuck, an animal held sacred by the Bishnoi community, has been a point of contention for over two decades.

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In a recent interview with a news channel, Ramesh disclosed that Khan allegedly offered the community financial compensation in an attempt to settle the matter. Ramesh stated that the actor met with community leaders after the poaching case intensified, presenting them with an unsigned cheque book and inviting them to name their price. "If we were interested in money, we would have accepted it," he remarked, underscoring that the issue was about principles, not payment.

Addressing Salim Khan’s assertion that Lawrence’s actions were financially motivated, Ramesh countered, noting that his cousin was ideologically driven. He emphasized that Lawrence was well-off, owning 110 acres of land, and had no need to pursue extortion.

The 1998 poaching case, which occurred during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain in Jodhpur, continues to loom over Salman Khan, who remains free on bail. The Bishnoi community has repeatedly demanded an apology, though Salim Khan recently stated such an act would imply guilt—a stance they are unwilling to take.