Firing Incident Outside Rohit Shetty’s Juhu Residence
Mumbai witnessed a major security scare late Sunday night after unidentified assailants opened fire outside a residential building in Juhu owned by Bollywood director Rohit Shetty. The incident, which took place shortly after midnight, triggered an immediate police response and led to the arrest of four young men within hours.
Although no one was injured in the firing, the incident raised serious concerns about the safety of high-profile individuals in the city and possible links to organised crime.
Four Arrested, One Served Notice
Within hours of the incident, Pune police intercepted five suspects based on specific inputs shared by the Mumbai Police. The suspects were later handed over to the Mumbai crime branch, which is leading the investigation.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed that four of the five suspects were formally arrested, while the fifth was served a legal notice and will be called for questioning at a later stage.
At present, the suspects are accused of aiding and abetting the attack. Police officials said none of them have a prior criminal record.
Who Are the Accused?
The four arrested accused have been identified as:
- Siddharth Deepak Yenpure, 20
- Samarth Shivshankar Pomaji, 18
- Swapnil Bandu Sakat, 23
- Aditya Dnyaneshwar Gayake, 19
The fifth suspect, Aman Anand Marothe, 27, was served a notice.
All five are residents of Pune’s Dhayari and Warje-Malwadi areas and are employed in informal sector jobs. Investigators are now trying to establish their exact roles in the planning and execution of the firing.
CCTV Footage Reveals Attack Sequence
Shooter Walked to Building, Fired Five Rounds
The firing took place at around 12.40 am outside a 10-storeyed building known as Shetty Tower, located near Hasya Kalakar Mehmood Chowk in Juhu.
CCTV footage from the area shows a man approaching the building on foot and firing five rounds at the structure before fleeing. Based on preliminary findings, police believe the shooter specifically targeted the first floor of the building.
A case for endangering human life was initially registered at Juhu police station before being transferred to the Mumbai crime branch.
Gym Appears to Have Been Targeted
Police officials said the bullets were seemingly aimed at Rohit Shetty’s personal gym located on the first floor of the building. The director is known for maintaining a disciplined fitness routine and regularly works out at the gym.
Fortunately, no one was present at the time of the firing, and there were no injuries or property damage reported.
Suspect’s Escape Route Under Scanner
Bike, Auto, and Railway Station Involved
Investigators believe the attacker travelled from Pune to Mumbai on a motorcycle. The suspect reportedly parked the bike around 200 metres away from the building, conducted a brief reconnaissance, and then opened fire.
After firing the shots, the assailant fled on the motorcycle for nearly two kilometres before abandoning it. He then approached an auto-rickshaw driver and asked to be taken to Kalyan.
The driver declined, saying the distance was too far, but agreed to drop him at a nearby railway station. The abandoned motorcycle was later recovered by police.
Bike Ownership Leads Police to Pune
The registration number of the recovered bike helped investigators trace it back to Pune. Based on this information, Mumbai Police alerted their Pune counterparts.
Acting swiftly, Pune police’s anti-extortion unit intercepted the suspects on the outskirts of the city on Sunday afternoon.
Investigators believe Aman Marothe was the owner of the bike used in the crime. He allegedly gave it to Aditya Gayake, who then passed it on to Siddharth Yenpure, suspected to be the person who carried out the firing.
Weapon Yet to Be Recovered
While five bullets were recovered from the scene and sent to the forensic laboratory in Kalina for analysis, the firearm used in the attack has not yet been recovered.
Police said the exact type of weapon is still unknown, and efforts are underway to locate it.
Rohit Shetty’s Statement Recorded
Mumbai Police have recorded Rohit Shetty’s statement as part of the investigation. According to officials, the filmmaker confirmed that he had not received any threats prior to the incident.
Shetty’s spokesperson stated that police have advised him not to speak to the media while the investigation is ongoing.
Gang Link Under Investigation
Social Media Post Claims Responsibility
Shortly after the firing, a Facebook page titled ‘Shubham Lonkar Aarzoo Bishnoi’ claimed responsibility for the attack. The post included threats directed at members of the film industry and warned them to “fall in line”.
The post alleged that Shetty had ignored multiple warnings and stated that while bullets were fired outside his home this time, future attacks would directly target him.
Police believe the page may be linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has been associated with several high-profile crimes in recent years.
Connection to Baba Siddique Murder Being Probed
Investigators are also examining possible links between the Shetty firing case and the 2024 murder of NCP leader and former minister Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in Bandra.
Shubham Lonkar, suspected to be linked to the Facebook page, is a wanted accused in Siddique’s murder case. After that incident, Pune police launched a manhunt for him.
While Lonkar could not be found, his brother Pravin Lonkar was later arrested in connection with the murder.
Police Tighten Security, Investigation Continues
Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti confirmed the firing incident and assured that all angles, including organised crime involvement, are being thoroughly investigated.
The four arrested accused are scheduled to be produced before a court on Monday. Police said further arrests are possible as the probe continues.
While the incident did not result in any casualties, it has once again highlighted growing concerns about extortion threats and criminal intimidation targeting prominent figures in Mumbai.
