Mumbai Police Uncover Gang Link Between Rohit Shetty Firing and Baba Siddique Murder
The Mumbai Crime Branch has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the firing incident at Bollywood director Rohit Shetty's Juhu residence, revealing a direct connection to the high-profile murder of politician Baba Siddique in 2024. This development comes over a week after the attack on Shetty's home, with the shooter still at large, but the arrest of a fifth accused has shed light on the organized criminal network behind both crimes.
Arrest of Asaram Fasle Exposes Weapon Supply Chain
Last Thursday, the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Asaram Fasle, also known as Babu, in connection with the Shetty case. Police stated that Fasle was responsible for supplying the weapon used in the firing at Shetty's residence on January 31. Following his arrest, all five accused have been remanded to six days of police custody until February 11 by Mumbai's Esplanade Court, with the judge citing the seriousness of the offence and the need for a detailed investigation.
Investigations reveal that Asaram Fasle worked as a garage mechanic for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for the past four years. He joined the gang under the influence of gangster Shubham Lonkar, a close associate of Lawrence Bishnoi. According to the Crime Branch, Fasle, acting on Lonkar's instructions, handed over weapons to Swapnil Sakat, which were later used by the unidentified shooter in the firing at Shetty's home.
Shubham Lonkar: The Suspected Mastermind
Shubham Lonkar has emerged as a central figure in both criminal cases. He is suspected to be the mastermind behind not only the Rohit Shetty firing incident but also the murder of Baba Siddique. In the Siddique case, Lonkar allegedly supplied weapons to the three assailants who shot dead the politician outside his son Zeeshan Siddique's Bandra East office on October 12, 2024.
The connection between the two cases deepens with the involvement of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has claimed responsibility for both attacks. For the Shetty firing, responsibility was claimed through a social media post, as stated by the Mumbai Crime Branch in court. In January of this year, police filed a chargesheet in the Baba Siddique murder case, naming Anmol Bishnoi, brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, as a wanted accused. The prosecution alleges that Anmol Bishnoi conspired to kill Siddique to instill fear and dominance over the crime syndicate.
Legal Proceedings and Gang Network
The police have arrested 26 people in the Baba Siddique murder case, booking them under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). All are currently in judicial custody. Earlier this month, Akashdeep Karaj Singh became the first accused in the Siddique case to receive some relief, with the Bombay High Court granting him bail. However, the Punjab resident has been ordered not to leave Mumbai until the trial concludes.
This investigation highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in tackling organized crime networks in Mumbai. The linkage between these two high-profile cases underscores the reach and coordination of criminal gangs, with Shubham Lonkar playing a pivotal role in orchestrating violence across different targets. As the Mumbai Crime Branch continues its probe, further details about the gang's operations and motivations are expected to emerge.
