Six More Accused Arrested in Rohit Shetty Firing Incident, Total Reaches 11
The Mumbai Crime Branch has made significant progress in the investigation of the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty's residence, with six additional accused apprehended from Rajasthan. These individuals are currently being transported to Mumbai for further interrogation, according to officials citing news agency ANI. This development brings the total number of arrests in the case to 11, marking a crucial step in unraveling the alleged criminal conspiracy.
MCOCA Invoked Amid Suspicions of Organized Crime Network
In a move underscoring the seriousness of the offense, the Mumbai Police have invoked sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). This action follows suspicions that an organized crime network is behind the attack, which occurred on February 1 when assailants fired four rounds outside Shetty's house. Earlier, five accused were produced before a special MCOCA court on Wednesday, where they were remanded to police custody until February 17.
During the court proceedings, defense advocate Ajinkya Mirgal raised questions about the MCOCA invocation, stating, "MCOCA has been added today... They (police) said in the court that the weapon recovered from accused number one, Sakat, was given to him by Praveen Lonkar, who is involved in the Baba Siddique murder case and has been in jail for one and a half years. We stated that he has been in jail for a year and a half. When and how did he get the weapon? This possibility seems a little doubtful to us."
Timeline of Arrests and Court Proceedings
The investigation timeline reveals a series of swift actions by authorities:
- On February 1, Mumbai Police apprehended four individuals shortly after the firing incident, sending them to police custody.
- A fifth accused was arrested on February 5 and produced before the court alongside the others.
- After a hearing, the judge remanded all five to police custody until February 11, 2026, citing the gravity of the offense and evidence of criminal conspiracy.
- The court emphasized the need for a detailed investigation and joint interrogation, ordering custody for the accused.
Investigation Uncovers Links to Criminal Networks
Police informed the court that a social media post had claimed responsibility for the incident, with the accused using the Signal app to communicate secretly. Authorities are seeking additional deleted chats involving Shubham Lonkar, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind both the Baba Siddique murder case and the Rohit Shetty firing.
The Mumbai Crime Branch's probe has revealed that accused weapon supplier Asaram Fasle alias Babu had been working as a garage mechanic for the Bishnoi gang for four years. He reportedly joined the gang under Shubham Lonkar's influence. Police claim that Fasle, on Lonkar's instructions, provided weapons to Swapnil Sakat, which were later used by an unidentified shooter in the firing.
For the first accused, his lawyer argued that he was not present at the scene and was arrested based on circumstantial evidence, with no established link to Shubham Lonkar. Police requested maximum custody for the four previously arrested individuals and a 10-day custody for Fasle.
This case continues to unfold as authorities delve deeper into the connections between organized crime elements and high-profile incidents in Mumbai.
