Mumbai police have arrested six additional suspects in connection with the January 31 firing incident outside the residence of filmmaker Rohit Shetty in Mumbai’s Juhu area, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to eleven. The latest arrests were made in Rajasthan, according to Mumbai Crime Branch officials.
The arrests follow the invocation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against five previously arrested individuals on February 11. A special MCOCA court remanded those five suspects to police custody until February 17, despite a request from the Crime Branch for a 15-day remand, to further investigate what authorities describe as a larger criminal conspiracy.
Police allege the shooting was not a random act, but a planned attempt to instill fear in Mumbai. Investigators have identified Shubham Lonkar as a key conspirator, claiming he provided Rs 40,000 to the accused and maintained contact through the Signal messaging app, instructing them to “do something big in Mumbai.” Authorities also suspect Pravin Lonkar, Shubham’s brother currently incarcerated in connection with the Baba Siddique case, played a role in the conspiracy, allegedly concealing three firearms.
The vehicle used in the shooting was traced back to Pune, and police are continuing to investigate all related connections. The arrests of the six additional suspects, including the alleged main shooter, were made after a coordinated operation across multiple locations in Rajasthan, utilizing technical evidence, CCTV footage, and mobile location tracking, according to police sources.
The Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPA) had previously written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis following the incident, requesting a swift investigation and enhanced security measures. IMPA highlighted Shetty’s contributions to Indian cinema and his support for national initiatives, expressing concern over the attack.
Shetty’s most recent project is ‘Singham Again,’ an action film and part of his established “Cop Universe” series. The investigation remains ongoing, with the newly arrested suspects being brought to Mumbai for further interrogation.
