A Mumbai court on Wednesday remanded three key accused in the firing at actor Tiger Shroff's car to police custody till October 31, as investigators sought to recover weapons and uncover the conspiracy behind the incident.
The accused — Rehan alias Sukka, from Sonipat in Haryana; Ritik Kurmi alias Roshan, originally from Begusarai in Bihar and residing in Mumbai; and Phool Singh, from Haryana — were brought to Mumbai from Kota in Rajasthan early on Wednesday.
The crime branch produced them before a magistrate court and sought 14 days of custody, telling the court that the weapons used in the shooting had to be recovered and that the accused had destroyed two mobile phones. Police said their custody was necessary to establish the motive and uncover the conspiracy.
Defence lawyers Ajinkya Mirgal and Satyabrat Joshi opposed the remand, arguing that custody was unnecessary for recovering the weapons and that the accused had already been interrogated during transit remand. After hearing both sides, the court remanded them to police custody till October 31.
Kota city police had apprehended the trio from a train on Monday based on specific information before handing them over to Mumbai Police, which formally arrested them and obtained transit remand.
At least two men fired shots at Shroff's car in Mumbai's Juhu area on Sunday evening before fleeing on a motorcycle. The actor escaped relatively unhurt, while his driver and a bystander were injured. Mumbai Police said five to six rounds were fired at the car. A motorcycle allegedly used by the shooters was later found abandoned in Andheri.
Police have registered a case under provisions relating to attempt to murder and the Arms Act.
Haryana Director General of Police Ajay Singhal said state police had identified the accused from Haryana and assisted Mumbai Police in the investigation. He said Haryana Police would continue cooperating with their Mumbai counterparts and warned that strict action would be taken against criminal gangs and those threatening public safety.
"Those who spread terror among people and point guns at the police will be answered in their own language," Singhal said, adding that attempts to disturb law and order would not be tolerated.
Earlier, Mumbai Police arrested four other people, including two women, in connection with the case. The accused were identified as Kunal and Sumit, both from Haryana's Sonipat district, and Radha and Babita, both from Uttar Pradesh.
According to Praveen Tripathi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), Kunal allegedly collected weapons from a predetermined location in Amritsar with the help of Sumit, following instructions from Anil Pandit. The weapons were subsequently transported to Mumbai, where Radha and Babita allegedly arranged for their delivery to a minor near a railway station.
"Having recently been released from jail in connection with another case, Kunal, acting on instructions from Anil Pandit, travelled to Amritsar with his associate, Sumit, to collect weapons from a specific location," Tripathi told ANI. He said Kunal had also communicated with Pandit through encrypted channels and received instructions on collecting, transporting and delivering the weapons.
Sources had earlier said the weapons were collected through a system known as a "dead letter box", in which an item is left at a prearranged location for another person to retrieve.
Separately, Singhal said Haryana Police had taken action against gangsters operating from abroad, with 26 deported to India from foreign countries and 14 others detained overseas.
The DGP also highlighted the state police's campaign against drug trafficking, including public awareness programmes and action against those involved in the illegal drug trade. He said efforts would continue to prevent drug abuse among young people and curb criminal activity.
The investigation into the firing at Shroff's car remains ongoing.
(With agency inputs from ANI and PTI)
