In a major breakthrough in the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu, the Mumbai Crime Branch, in a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh STF, has arrested wanted accused Pradeep Sharma alias Golu (23) from Agra. With this, the total number of accused arrested in the case has risen to 14.
According to police, the firing was allegedly carried out to create terror on the instructions of Bishnoi gang operative Shubham Lonkar. Acting on technical inputs provided by the Mumbai Crime Branch, the Agra unit of the UP STF laid a trap and apprehended the accused from Mahavir Nagar under the Bah police station limits. The operation was led by Police Inspector Akash Singh along with Assistant Police Inspector Amol Mali of the Mumbai Crime Branch. Pradeep had been evading arrest and was on the run for several days.
During interrogation, Pradeep alias Golu Pandit made shocking revelations. He told police that he was influenced by social media posts of the Bishnoi gang on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. In a bid to establish his dominance, he contacted the gang. Acting on the instructions of his associate Shivam Dubey, he allegedly planned the attack on Rohit Shetty’s residence.
On February 1, unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate fire outside Shetty’s residence, ‘Shetty Tower’, late at night. Police said Pradeep had recruited Vishnu Kushwaha and Deepak, who executed the firing. Investigations further revealed that Pradeep had earlier been involved in a similar firing incident in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, on May 28, 2025, for which he had been jailed.
Earlier, the Mumbai Crime Branch had arrested 13 accused, including key shooters Deepak and Vishnu Kushwaha, and Pravin Lonkar, brother of Shubham Lonkar. Pravin Lonkar, who was lodged in Arthur Road Jail in connection with the Baba Siddiqui murder case, is alleged to have provided logistical support from prison.
With the arrest of Pradeep Sharma alias Golu Pandit, the final absconding accused in the case has now been apprehended. He has been booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. The accused will be produced before a holiday court on Sunday by the Mumbai Crime Branch.