Rohit Shetty firing case: Accused arrived in Mumbai on scooter January 20, unveiling larger conspiracy
Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): The firing incident at Rohit Shetty's house in Mumbai created a stir in the city, and now the mystery of the case is slowly unraveling. An investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed a larger conspiracy. Police have stated that illegal arms supply, large-scale funding, and international connections are likely involved.
According to the police, on January 20th, the accused, Siddharth and Samarth, arrived in Mumbai from Pune on a two-wheeler. Their goal was to deliver the scooter to the shooter, who was parked near Vile Parle railway station. The shooter, who is said to be from Bihar, stayed in Mumbai with four or five companions and had allegedly conducted a recce of Rohit Shetty's house three or four times before the shooting.
The investigation has revealed several more revelations. Police recovered a pistol, three magazines, and an air gun from the home of accused Swapnil Sakat. The investigation revealed that these weapons were provided to Swapnil by arrested accused Asaram Fasale at the behest of mastermind Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar. Police are now investigating whether these weapons were previously used in other crimes.
Police told the court that funding was arranged for this conspiracy. This money was allegedly used to purchase a scooter and other essential items. Police are now investigating bank accounts and financial transactions to determine where the funding came from.
The investigation also revealed that the accused were using the encrypted messaging app Signal. Some suspects deleted the app to avoid detection, but police have sent the mobile phone of the fifth accused for forensic examination to recover deleted messages and chats. This will help authorities access other parts of the network.
The most crucial part of this investigation is the capture of the unidentified shooter and absconding mastermind, Shubham Lonkar. Efforts are ongoing to recover additional weapons and vehicles, interrogate the accused face-to-face, and identify other suspects involved in the conspiracy.