Shabnur rejects claims over Salman Shah’s death

Actress Shabnur has rejected recent allegations by Rizvi Ahmed Farhad, a former state witness in the case over the death of actor Salman Shah, calling the claims false, baseless and defamatory.

In a lengthy Facebook post on Saturday, Shabnur said Rizvi had made contradictory statements about Salman Shah’s death in different interviews and questioned the credibility of his latest claims.

Salman Shah was found hanging at his residence on September 6, 1996. His death has remained controversial, with legal proceedings continuing over the years.

Rizvi, who was arrested in a separate case after the actor’s death, became a state witness in 1997 and reportedly admitted to involvement in a plan to kill Salman Shah. He later changed his account and claimed the actor had died by suicide.

Shabnur particularly rejected Rizvi’s allegations that she had been his girlfriend, that they were married between 2016 and 2018, and that she had blackmailed Salman Shah or contributed to his death.

She said she had never had a relationship or communication with Rizvi and first heard his name after Salman Shah’s death, when he became a state witness in the case.

“Salman Shah’s death or the alleged murder has nothing to do with me. I have no idea how he died,” Shabnur said.

She also denied Rizvi’s other claims about her, describing them as fabricated and defamatory. She suggested that he may have been influenced by others or motivated by financial interests, but provided no evidence to support the claim.

Shabnur described Salman Shah as a beloved co-star and an elder-brother figure and called for a fair and comprehensive investigation into his death.

“I sincerely want the real mystery behind Salman Shah’s death to be uncovered through a neutral and thorough investigation,” she said, adding that anyone found responsible should face exemplary punishment.

A murder case over Salman Shah’s death was filed at Ramna Police Station following a court order. The case names 11 accused individuals, along with several unnamed suspects.