Probe Reveals Planned Attack on Rohit Shetty Home, 15 Arrested, 2 on Run

Mumbai Police have filed a detailed 1,624-page chargesheet against 17 accused in connection with the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in the Juhu area earlier this year, officials said on Thursday. The case has been registered under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), indicating the involvement of an organised criminal network.

According to investigators, at least five rounds were fired at the first floor of the nine-storey building around 12:45 am on February 1. One of the bullets struck the glass of a gym located inside the premises. No injuries were reported.

Police have arrested 15 accused so far, while two key suspects Shubham Lonkar and Arzoo Bishnoi have been declared wanted. Both are believed to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and had allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack through a social media post.

The probe revealed that the accused had conducted reconnaissance of the target location on three separate occasions prior to the incident. On the night of the firing, some of them allegedly consumed alcohol nearby before the shooter, identified as Deepak Sharma, carried out the attack.

After the incident, Sharma and his associates fled the scene in an autorickshaw to Kalyan in neighbouring Thane district. Investigators said the group regrouped at a co-accused’s residence before escaping to northern states by train. They were later traced to a hideout in Haryana arranged by another accused, who has since been arrested.

Police officials noted that most of the arrested individuals, aged between 20 and 25 years, were known to each other but did not all share direct links with the gang’s core members. Lonkar, who remains absconding, is also wanted in other high-profile cases, including the murder of a political leader and a separate firing incident outside the residence of actor Salman Khan.

Authorities have also taken into custody Lonkar’s brother, Pravin, for his alleged role in the conspiracy, including facilitating weapons, handling finances and influencing the accused.

Officials said invoking MCOCA allows investigators to pursue the case as part of a larger organised crime syndicate, with stricter provisions for prosecution and bail. The chargesheet has been filed before a special MCOCA court, and further investigation is underway to apprehend the absconding accused.