The court has extended the police custody of Mohammad Rafiq Sardar Chaudhary, the fifth suspect arrested from Rajasthan in the firing case outside actor Salman Khan's house. The police told the court that 5 more names have come up during the interrogation of Chaudhary. Chaddi had conducted a recce of Salman Khan's house from April 8 to April 13. Chaudhary made a video of the outside of Khan's house and sent this video to Anmol Bishnoi.
According to information from sources in the Crime Branch, Chaudhary has revealed the names of 5 other individuals, who are residents of Haryana and Rajasthan. Currently, a team from the Crime Branch is outside Mumbai.
According to sources, the interrogation with Chaudhary is still ongoing, and he has provided information about five other individuals who were aware of the shooting outside Salman Khan's house. Allegedly, these individuals have assisted the accused in some capacity related to the shooting case.
Sources within the investigation told that Chaudhary facilitated monetary transactions with the shooters, Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, who executed the gunfire outside Salman's residence. Additionally, Chaudhary had undertaken reconnaissance of Salman Khan's Bandra abode upon his arrival in Mumbai. His communications extended to fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi and Rohit Godara. The arrest of Chaudhary took place in Bansi village, Nagaur district, Rajasthan.
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Further revelations indicate that Chaudhary had multiple interactions with shooters Pal and Gupta, during which he allegedly provided them with a substantial sum of money, sourced from a member of the Bishnoi gang.
Police sources elaborate that Chaudhary's involvement was orchestrated by Anmol Bishnoi and Godara, who tasked him with delivering funds to Pal and Gupta, promising significant rewards.
Chaudhary, formerly engaged in dairy business in Dongari, shifted focus after the pandemic-induced closure, connecting with Ankit Aroda, who recruited him into the Bishnoi gang. Residing primarily in the village, Chaudhary occasionally visited Mumbai to meet his brother, who operates a dairy in Kurla.
Notably, Chaudhary's encounter with Pal and Gupta preceded their apprehension by the police. Upon learning of their arrest, Chaudhary fled from Kurla to his village. It's disclosed that Rohit Godara oversees Anmol Bishnoi's operations, even conducting conference calls with Chaudhary and Anmol through communication app. Godara, reportedly in America with Bishnoi, faces multiple charges in other cases, as per Mumbai police.
Recently, the Mumbai Crime Branch apprehended two suspects from Punjab for allegedly supplying weapons to the shooters involved in the Salman Khan residence firing incident. However, one of the accused, Anuj Thapan, tragically ended his life while in police custody. Furthermore, Chaudhary's involvement in reconnaissance activities targeting other individuals' residences is under scrutiny, hinting at a wider network possibly connected to similar criminal activities.