Mumbai, Oct 23 Three persons held from Haryana for alleged involvement in the Tiger Shroff firing case were remanded in police custody till October 28 by a court here on Friday, with investigators citing their crucial roles in reconnaissance and weapons supply.
Ankit alias Sarpanch Rajesh Khatak (18), Sameer Khatri (19), and Jatin Panchal (27), all residents of Sonipat in Haryana, were arrested on October 21 and brought to Mumbai on transit remand.
The police produced them before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate D S Khedkar and sought their custody for detailed investigation into the matter.
As per police, the three were involved in several aspects of the conspiracy, including logistics, money transfers and weapons procurement.
Khatak travelled with the primary shooters to conduct a “recce” of the target’s locations and help hatch the conspiracy, the police said.
Investigations revealed he was in direct contact with wanted main accused Anil Pandit, police said.
Pandit, a 32-year-old alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang believed to be operating from the US, had claimed responsibility for the October 18 attack on the actor in a social media post.
Khatak, Khatri and Panchal, in collusion with the previously apprehended individuals, kept watch on Shroff with the intent to kill him, police said. Live cartridges and firearms used in the crime were supplied by Khatri and Panchal, police said.
They supplied a motorcycle for fleeing, conspired to destroy relevant evidence after committing the crime, and also hatched a plan to ensure the accused could flee abroad, investigators said.
The police said their custodial interrogation was required for recovery of the firearms used in the crime.
It was necessary to investigate who aided them in bringing deadly guns to Mumbai and smuggling them, the specific routes, vehicles used for this, or any local logistics (transport and management) help they received. police told court.
Police asserted the arrested accused are originally residents of Haryana and other states and it was necessary to go to these places as part of the probe into the crime.
As the firing incident is in the nature of organized crime, it is necessary to investigate whether the arrested accused have any connection or nexus with any other organized crime syndicate, the police said while pressing for their remand.
The defence, represented by Ajinkya Mirgal and Gurjeet Singh, opposed the police’s plea saying custody was not required for weapon recovery.
They were not present at the crime spot and there was no motive on their part for committing the crime. Considering these factors, the accused should be sent to judicial custody, the defence argued.
The court, after hearing both the sides, remanded the accused in police custody till October 28.
At least two men fired gunshots at Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on the evening of October 18 before speeding away on a motorcycle. The actor escaped relatively unhurt, while his driver and a bystander were injured.
According to Mumbai Police, five to six rounds were fired at the car. A motorcycle, allegedly used by the shooters, was found abandoned in Andheri.
The Mumbai Police have registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act for attempt to murder and other offences. Ten persons have been arrested in the case so far.
(PTI News)
