Mumbai Police struck gold in the Rohit Shetty residence shooting probe by arresting Pravin Lonkar from jail. The 13th accused in this chilling case, linked to Baba Siddique’s killing, faces grilling till March 16 after court approval. Crime Branch teams extracted him from Arthur Road for specialized questioning.
As brother of conspiracy chief Shubham Lonkar, Pravin allegedly directed operations remotely. Key evidence points to him concealing three pistols at a covert spot. On his orders, Asaram Fasle recovered the arsenal and delivered it to Swapnil Sakat, enabling the firing spree.
The operation’s backbone was Pune’s module, fully orchestrated by Pravin, handling vehicle and weaponry procurement. This cross-state plot reveals sophisticated criminal coordination defying incarceration.
Interrogations will soon pit Pravin against fellow arrestees, aiming to crack open funding sources, additional players, and underlying grudges. The Shetty incident amplifies concerns over targeted attacks on film personalities.
Law enforcement’s persistence has already dismantled parts of the gang. With MCOCA charges looming, collaborators face stringent penalties. This custody phase could culminate in busting a broader terror network plaguing Maharashtra.