Mumbai: The Esplanade court in Mumbai on Thursday, February 5, sent all five accused arrested in connection with the firing incident that took place outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence to police custody till February 11.
According to an ANI report, the Judge has observed that the offence appears to be of a serious nature and involves a criminal conspiracy. The court also added that further custody was essential for a detailed investigation and joint interrogation, especially as the fifth accused was arrested recently.
In the court, the Mumbai Crime Branch said that weapons, including a pistol, an air gun, and three magazines, were recovered from one accused in the firing case, while the main accused, Shubham Lonkar, is still absconding. Police said the accused deleted the Signal app and sought further custody to recover chats.
However, the defending lawyer, Advocate Ajinkya Mirgal, argued that the boys did not know the purpose for which the motorcycle was being used. He also argued that further custody was unnecessary as their phones are already with the police.
The five accused arrested in the case are identified as Swapnil Bandu Sakat (23), Siddharth Deepak Yenpure (19), Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji (19), and Aditya Gyaneshwar Gayaki (19). Asharam Fasle (45) is the fifth recently arrested accused from Pune.
Earlier today, sources told FPJ that during the investigation, it was found that the shooter, another allegedly linked to the Bishnoi gang, used an advanced country-made firearm to open fire at Shetty’s house. Moreover, they also found clues which suggested that several other members of the Bishnoi gang were also present at the spot along with the main shooter.
Meanwhile, at least five rounds were fired at the first floor of the filmmakers' building at around 12.45 am on Sunday, of which one bullet struck the glass of a gym. Earlier during the interrogation with the four accused, it was learned that all four have been childhood friends. Additionally, it was found that they were acquainted with the Pune-based accused arrested earlier in the Baba Siddique murder case, including Rupesh Mohol, Shivam Kohad, Karan Salve, Gaurav Apune, Aditya Gulankar, and Pravin Lonkar.
Speaking of the main accused, a CCTV footage circulating showed the alleged accused firing gunshots at Shetty's house. While speaking to news agency PTI, officials said that the suspect who fired was also spotted in CCTV cameras placed near the Vile Parle railway station as he was fleeing after committing the crime. Multiple teams of the Mumbai police's crime branch are working round-the-clock to arrest the shooter and his associates.
"While examining the CCTV footage in the Juhu and Vile Parle area, police spotted the shooter, riding a two-wheeler and later abandoning it near St Joseph Church Road in the Vile Parle area. He caught another vehicle, most probably an autorickshaw, which dropped him near Vile Parle railway station," the official said as quoted by PTI.
(With inputs from agencies)
To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
