Mumbai: Gunshots were fired at filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Mumbai’s Juhu area early Sunday, triggering a major police investigation and the detention of five persons in Pune, officials said. Preliminary findings suggest the suspects have links to Shubham Lonkar, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and an accused in the Baba Siddique murder case.
According to police, at least five rounds were fired at the first floor of a nine-storey residential building around 12.45 am. One of the bullets struck the glass façade of a gym located inside the building. No injuries were reported, and it was not immediately clear whether Shetty was present at the residence at the time of the incident.
Security around the filmmaker’s building was significantly tightened following the firing.
Threat Issued via Social Media
Hours after the incident, a threatening post surfaced on social media, claiming responsibility for the attack. Officials said the post alleged that Shubham Lonkar was behind the firing.
The post, written in Hindi, was shared from an account named “Shubham Lonkar and Arzoo Bishnoi” and also mentioned Bishnoi gang operatives Hari Boxer and Harman Shandu, a senior police official said.
“We messaged him many times asking him not to interfere in our work, but he did not listen,” the post read. It further warned, “This is just a trailer. If he doesn’t listen, the next bullets won’t be outside his house; they will be inside his bedroom.”
Investigation Underway, Case Registered
Teams from Juhu Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch rushed to the spot and launched a detailed investigation. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being analysed to establish the sequence of events.
Forensic science and ballistic experts were also called in to collect evidence. A case has been registered under attempt to murder provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with relevant sections of the Arms Act, police said.
Five Detained in Pune, Handed Over to Mumbai Police
Pune Police DCP (Zone 3) Sambhaji Kadam confirmed that five men were detained by personnel of the Warje Malwadi police station. The suspects were identified as:
- Aman Marote (27) – Karve Nagar
- Aditya Gayaki (19) – Karve Nagar
- Siddharth Yenpure (20) – Dhayari
- Samarth Pomaji (18) – Dhayari
- Swapnil Sakat (23) – Dhayari
Senior Police Inspector Mahesh Bolkotgi said all five have been handed over to the Mumbai Police.
According to investigators, the suspects had links with Shubham Lonkar and allegedly played roles in providing logistics to the shooters. Police said three of the detained men will be formally arrested as their involvement has been established.
Background: Baba Siddique Murder Case
Shubham Lonkar is an accused in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique (66), who was shot by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra area on the night of October 12, 2024. Siddique was declared dead at a hospital later that night.
About Rohit Shetty
Rohit Shetty is among Bollywood’s most successful filmmakers and is best known for blockbuster franchises such as “Golmaal” and “Singham”, led by Ajay Devgn, as well as the Shah Rukh Khan–Deepika Padukone starrer “Chennai Express”.