On Sunday morning, firing took place outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Mumbai home. While fortunately nobody was hurt in the firing, the initial investigations have now indicated alleged links to Lawrence Bishnoi gang Shubham Lonkar, who is also an accused in the Baba Siddique murder case, police officials said according to PTI. The four were among the five persons detained earlier in Pune. They were brought to Mumbai, where a court remanded them in police custody till February 5, an official said.According to officials, a few hours after the shooting, a threatening post surfaced on social media, claiming Lonkar’s involvement in the attack.Police said that at least five rounds were fired at around 12.45 am at the first floor of the nine-storey residential building in Juhu. One of the bullets shattered the glass of a gym located within the premises. No one was injured in the incident, and it remains unclear whether Shetty was present at his residence at the time, a Mumbai Police officer said.Following the firing, security around the filmmaker’s building was significantly enhanced. “Zonal police and crime branch teams are investigating,” an official said, adding that personnel from the Juhu Police and the crime branch rushed to the spot immediately and began inquiries.Investigators scrutinized CCTV footage from the surrounding area to piece together the sequence of events. Teams from forensic science and ballistic departments also visited the location to gather 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, said the five suspects were initially detained by officers from the Warje Malwadi police station. They were identified as Aman Marote (27) and Aditya Gayaki (19), both residents of Karve Nagar; and Siddharth Yenpure (20), Samarth Pomaji (18), and Swapnil Sakat (23), residents of Dhayari. Senior Police Inspector Mahesh Bolkotgi confirmed that the suspects were later handed over to the Mumbai Police.Police officials stated 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 them after their alleged roles in providing logistical support to the shooters emerged.Meanwhile, authorities said a social media post appeared hours after the incident, asserting that Lonkar was behind the firing. 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. “We messaged him many times asking him not to interfere in our work, but he did not understand,” the post read.Referring to the attack as a “trailer”, the post warned, “If he (the filmmaker) doesn’t listen, the next bullets won’t be outside his house; they will be inside his bedroom.” It further stated, “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. Those we have contacted should mend their ways while there is still time. Otherwise, there will be nowhere to hide.”Rohit Shetty is widely known for blockbuster franchises such as Golmaal and Singham, headlined by Ajay Devgn, as well as the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chennai Express.
