Mumbai Crime Branch to Interrogate Lawrence Bishnoi in Rohit Shetty Shooting Investigation
The Mumbai city crime branch is actively considering questioning notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently incarcerated in Sabarmati jail, as part of its ongoing investigation into the firing incident at acclaimed filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Juhu bungalow. The primary objective of this interrogation is to ascertain the precise motive behind the attack, even as law enforcement agencies continue their relentless pursuit to track down the elusive shooter.
Shetty's Statement and Police Focus on Shubham Lonkar
In his official statement to the police, Rohit Shetty confirmed that he had received no prior threats from Lawrence Bishnoi's gang or from the alleged gang member, Shubham Lonkar. This revelation has prompted investigators to delve deeper into whether Lonkar, who remains absconding, might have acted independently without Bishnoi's explicit knowledge or authorization.
A senior police official elaborated on this angle, stating, "Lonkar, who hails from Pune, exclusively recruited local individuals for this attack. It increasingly appears that he is attempting to assert his presence within the Bollywood circuit, possibly aiming to revive or expand an extortion network, especially in the absence of more senior gangsters."
Arrests and Modus Operandi of the Accused
Police authorities have already apprehended four accomplices within a remarkable 12-hour window following the shooting. These individuals are:
- Swapnil Sakat (23)
- Siddharth Yenpure (20)
- Aditya Gaiki (19)
- Samarth Pomaji (18)
According to the investigation, these young men provided crucial logistical support and acted strictly on Lonkar's directives. Notably, one of them is a college student, while the others are currently unemployed. Additionally, a fifth accused, Aman Marote (27) from Pune, has been formally served a notice, and police are actively searching for a sixth suspect who has been identified.
Those already in custody have claimed during interrogation that they were unaware of the identities of the other participants, including the shooter. Marote informed the police that he sold a scooter to Aditya Gaiki for approximately Rs 30,000 about a month prior to the incident.
Detailed Execution of the Attack
The probe has uncovered a meticulously planned operation. Gaiki and Pomaji allegedly rode the purchased scooter to Mumbai and left it at a predetermined location in Juhu. From there, the shooter picked up the vehicle, fired five rounds at Rohit Shetty's residence, abandoned the scooter roughly 2 kilometers away, and successfully fled the scene.
Investigations further reveal that the suspects initially came into contact with Shubham Lonkar through various social media platforms. Lonkar is believed to have remotely coordinated the entire operation, issuing specific orders regarding the procurement of the scooter and its designated drop locations.
Current Investigation Priorities and Digital Trails
A senior official emphasized the current focus, stating, "Our primary concentration is now on tracing the shooter, whose arrest is expected to clarify critical details, including who assigned the contract and the exact motive behind this brazen attack."
To this end, a dedicated police team is diligently tracing the IP address that Shubham Lonkar used to log into a Facebook account, from which he claimed responsibility for the firing. Although the post was deleted within a day, police have noted disturbing similarities between this post and those issued following other high-profile incidents, such as the Salman Khan firing and the murder of minister Baba Siddique in 2024.
Concurrently, another investigative team is scrutinizing the financial trail associated with the case. This includes examining payments made to the suspects for the scooter's purchase and other related expenses incurred during the planning and execution of the attack.
