The motive behind the firing incident outside the residence of Bollywood producer-director Rohit Shetty has come to light. According to the Mumbai Crime Branch investigation, the attack was orchestrated by the Bishnoi gang along with Shubham Lonkar with the intention of creating terror in Mumbai and executing a major criminal act.
During the probe, it was revealed that Shubham Lonkar had issued instructions to all the accused involved in the case through the Signal messaging application. He allegedly directed them to spread panic in Mumbai and carry out a major operation. Acting on his instructions, the conspiracy to open fire outside Shetty’s residence was allegedly executed to instill fear in the city.
A senior police officer stated that all five arrested accused, along with the absconding accused, were fully aware of the conspiracy.
The investigation has also uncovered the role of Shubham’s brother, Praveen Lonkar, who is currently lodged in jail in connection with the Baba Siddique murder case. According to Crime Branch officials, Praveen had concealed three firearms, including the weapon allegedly used in the firing at Shetty’s residence, at an undisclosed location. The information about the location was reportedly known only to Shubham Lonkar.
As per police findings, following Shubham’s instructions, accused Asaram Fasale retrieved the three firearms from the hidden location and later handed them over to another accused, Swapnil Sakat. So far, the Crime Branch has recovered only one of the three firearms, while two weapons remain untraced.
A senior officer said that the exact location where Praveen Lonkar had hidden the weapons is yet to be identified. Police plan to take Praveen Lonkar into custody from jail for further interrogation to ascertain the details. The Crime Branch suspects that one of these three firearms was used in the firing outside Shetty’s residence.
Investigations have further revealed that Shubham Lonkar allegedly paid Rs 40,000 to accused Samarth Pomaji, Siddharth Yenpure and Aditya Gayki to transport a scooter and weapons from Pune to Mumbai. Out of this amount, Rs 30,000 was spent on purchasing the scooter, while Rs 10,000 was reportedly used for expenses incurred while bringing the scooter to Mumbai.
MCOCA Invoked in Rohit Shetty Firing Case
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch on Wednesday invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the Rohit Shetty firing case. Following the invocation of MCOCA, the investigation will now be conducted by an officer of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) rank, and securing bail for the arrested accused is likely to become more difficult.
After applying MCOCA, the Crime Branch produced the five accused before a special MCOCA court, which remanded them to police custody till February 17. A police officer stated that the firing incident was part of an organised criminal conspiracy. Considering Shubham Lonkar’s criminal background and multiple cases registered against him, MCOCA has been invoked in the matter.