Mumbai Police Eye Bishnoi in Shetty Attack

The Mumbai crime branch is contemplating questioning gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, currently held in Sabarmati jail, concerning the recent firing incident at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Juhu bungalow. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation, with police still attempting to locate the shooter.

Shetty has stated he received no prior threats from Bishnoi's gang. Investigators are exploring whether Shubham Lonkar, an alleged gang member who is currently absconding, acted without Bishnoi's knowledge. A police official suggested Lonkar, from Pune, recruited local individuals for the attack, possibly aiming to establish a presence in Bollywood and revive an extortion network.

Four accomplices arrested shortly after the incident—Swapnil Sakat, Siddharth Yenpure, Aditya Gaiki, and Samarth Pomaji—provided logistical support under Lonkar's instructions. A fifth accused, Aman Marote, has been served a notice, and a sixth suspect has been identified. The arrested individuals claimed no knowledge of each other's identities, including the shooter.

The investigation indicates that the suspects connected with Lonkar through social media, and he remotely coordinated the operation. This included directing the procurement and disposal of a scooter used by the shooter. Police are focusing on identifying the shooter, whose arrest is expected to clarify who assigned the contract and the precise motive.

Authorities are also tracing the IP address Lonkar used to claim responsibility for the firing on Facebook, a post that was later deleted. Similarities have been noted between this post and those issued after other high-profile incidents. Additionally, a financial investigation is underway to track payments made to the suspects for the scooter and associated expenses.