Crime Branch says Bishnoi gang used layered strategy to avoid police detection
February 7, 2026: As the Mumbai Crime Branch steps up its investigation into the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence, new details have revealed a meticulously planned conspiracy allegedly involving the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Investigators say the attack was executed using a “dead drop” method, designed to keep each participant isolated from the others. According to sources, the plan was masterminded by Shubham Lonkar in a way that ensured the entire chain would remain protected even if one accused was caught.
Police found that arrested accused Swapnil Sakat and Siddharth Yenpure travelled from Pune to Mumbai on a scooter but never met the main shooter. They allegedly parked the scooter at a pre-decided secluded spot, with the pistol hidden inside its storage compartment, and immediately returned to Pune. The shooter later collected the scooter and weapon on his own, ensuring that the delivery handlers had no information about his identity, a move investigators believe was crucial in shielding the network.
Further probing has revealed that the weapon used in the firing was purchased in Pune on Lonkar’s instructions, with accused Asaram Fasale being questioned to trace the supply chain. Police say several accused are childhood friends of Lonkar, drawn into the plot through personal ties, though most have no major criminal history apart from Sakat, who faces an Arms Act case. Six days after the incident, the main shooter is still absconding, and tracking him down remains the biggest challenge for Mumbai Police.