The Mumbai Police Crime Branch achieved a major milestone in the investigation into the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence, “Shetty Tower.” Officials confirmed on Tuesday that they have recovered the 7.62 bore semi-automatic pistol allegedly used by the shooters during the attack on February 1, 2026.
The Breakthrough Recovery
Following the arrest of the primary shooter, identified as Deepak Ramesh Chandra Sharma, the police conducted intensive interrogations that led them to the disposal site of the weapon. Along with the firearm, investigators have also seized live ammunition and the motorcycle used by the assailants to flee the scene in Juhu.
According to police sources, the weapon was provided to the shooters by a specialized “logistics module” of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, orchestrated by wanted criminal Shubham Lonkar.
Massive Crackdown: 12 Suspects in Custody
The recovery comes as the total number of arrests in the case reached 12. In a coordinated effort with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), the Mumbai Crime Branch apprehended seven additional suspects earlier this week from various locations in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The arrested individuals include
Deepak Sharma: The alleged shooter who fired five rounds at the building. Asaram Fasale: A weapon supplier and mechanic allegedly linked to the Bishnoi gang for four years. Vishnu Kushwaha: Accused of coordinating the logistics and recruitment for the attack.
Motivation Behind the Attack
Investigations reveal a chilling motive centered on “fame and fear.” The police stated that the young recruits were lured with promises of quick money—reportedly an advance of ₹50,000—and were indoctrinated through social media messaging. The gang’s objective was to establish dominance and intimidate high-profile figures within the film industry for extortion purposes.
“The accused used encrypted messaging apps like Signal to communicate and deleted their chats immediately after the crime to evade detection. However, technical analysis and manual intelligence led us to their hideouts,” said a senior Crime Branch official.
Current Status
All suspects have been booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The Esplanade Court has remanded the key accused to police custody until February 25 to allow for further questioning regarding the broader extortion network targeting Bollywood personalities. To
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