Firing Incident at Filmmaker's Mumbai Residence Sparks Security Concerns
In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through Bollywood, gunshots were fired outside the Mumbai home of acclaimed filmmaker Rohit Shetty in the early hours of Sunday. The attack occurred at approximately 12:45 AM at a nine-storey residential building in the upscale Juhu neighborhood, where Shetty resides on the first floor.
Investigation Points to Gang Links and Detentions
According to police officials, at least five rounds were fired during the incident, with one bullet shattering the glass of a gym located within the building premises. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and it remains unclear whether Shetty was present at his residence at the time of the attack.
Initial investigations have now revealed alleged connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, with police identifying Shubham Lonkar as a key figure of interest. Lonkar is also an accused in the high-profile Baba Siddique murder case, adding another layer of complexity to this developing situation.
Police Action and Suspect Apprehension
Following the shooting, Mumbai Police swiftly enhanced security around the filmmaker's building and launched a comprehensive investigation. "Zonal police and crime branch teams are investigating," confirmed an official, noting that personnel from both the Juhu Police and crime branch immediately rushed to the scene.
In a significant breakthrough, five suspects were detained earlier in Pune by officers from the Warje Malwadi police station. The detained individuals have been identified as:
- Aman Marote (27) and Aditya Gayaki (19), both residents of Karve Nagar
- Siddharth Yenpure (20), Samarth Pomaji (18), and Swapnil Sakat (23), residents of Dhayari
These suspects were subsequently brought to Mumbai, where a court remanded them in police custody until February 5. Senior Police Inspector Mahesh Bolkotgi confirmed that the suspects were later handed over to the Mumbai Police for further investigation.
Threatening Social Media Posts Emerge
Adding to the gravity of the situation, a threatening social media post surfaced hours after the shooting, directly claiming Lonkar's involvement in the attack. The Hindi post was shared from an account named "Shubham Lonkar and Arzoo Bishnoi" and also mentioned Bishnoi gang members Hari Boxer and Harman Shandu.
The post contained chilling warnings, referring to the attack as a "trailer" and stating: "If he (the filmmaker) doesn't listen, the next bullets won't be outside his house; they will be inside his bedroom." It further issued a broader threat to Bollywood, warning: "This is a warning to the entire Bollywood: stay within limits. If you do not improve, the situation will become very bad, worse than what Baba Siddiqui faced."
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Police officials revealed that the accused are believed to have connections with Shubham Lonkar of the Bishnoi gang. Late on Sunday night, the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch formally arrested four of the detained individuals after their alleged roles in providing logistical support to the shooters emerged.
Investigators have been meticulously scrutinizing CCTV footage from the surrounding area to piece together the sequence of events. Teams from forensic science and ballistic departments have also visited the location to gather crucial evidence. A case has been registered under charges of attempt to murder as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the Arms Act.
Sambhaji Kadam, DCP (Zone 3) of Pune Police, provided details about the initial detentions, while Mumbai authorities continue their probe into the broader connections and motivations behind the attack.
Background on Rohit Shetty
Rohit Shetty is one of Bollywood's most successful filmmakers, widely known for creating blockbuster franchises such as Golmaal and Singham, headlined by Ajay Devgn. He also directed the immensely popular Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chennai Express, which remains one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the security of high-profile individuals in the entertainment industry and highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in dealing with organized crime networks operating across state boundaries.
