Shooter Arrested in Rajasthan for Firing Outside Rohit Shetty’s Mumbai Residence
Mumbai Crime Branch nabs accused; to be produced in court, police custody likely
In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested the shooter involved in firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Mumbai. The accused was apprehended from Rajasthan and is being brought to Mumbai. Police are expected to present him before a court today and seek custody for further investigation.
Crime Branch Recreates Scooty Route from Pune to Mumbai
Sub-heading: Scene recreation conducted with four accused; financial trail of ₹51,000 uncovered
In connection with the firing case, several suspects have already been detained. The Crime Branch recreated the entire route used to transport the scooty from Pune to Mumbai. Accused Swapnil Sakat, Aditya Gaikwad, Siddharth Yenpure, and Samarth Pomaji were taken along for the reconstruction.
Police retraced every step — from purchasing the scooty in Pune to traveling by road to Mumbai, halt points along the way, and parking it near Vile Parle station. The entire recreation was videographed and will be submitted as evidence in court.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that prime accused Shubham Lonkar paid them an additional ₹11,000 after the scooty reached Mumbai. While earlier reports mentioned ₹40,000, investigation has now revealed a total of ₹51,000 was paid — ₹30,000 for the scooty and ₹21,000 for expenses.
CCTV Footage Shows Shooter Fleeing After Attack
Sub-heading: Scooty recovered near Vile Parle hotel; forensic evidence collected
New CCTV footage has surfaced showing the shooter fleeing the scene after the firing incident, which took place in the early hours of February 1. A scooty was later found near a hotel in Vile Parle West, about two kilometers from Shetty’s residence. Police suspect the accused escaped using this vehicle.
Initial investigations suggest attempts were made to destroy evidence on the scooty. A forensic team collected fingerprints, DNA samples, and other crucial evidence from the spot.
Police also found that the second-hand scooty was purchased from a Karvenagar, Pune resident named Aman Marote. According to investigators, 19-year-old Aditya Gaikwad had bought the vehicle.
MCOCA Invoked; Main Shooter Still Absconding
Sub-heading: Lawrence Bishnoi gang angle under probe; search operations intensified
Police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case to speed up the investigation. Sources indicate that a sixth accused, Praveen Lonkar, will be taken into custody from jail within the next two to three days.
Meanwhile, the main shooter and his accomplice remain absconding, and search operations are underway. Authorities are also probing possible links to the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, following reports of alleged threats linked to the gang.
