New Delhi: The Mumbai Police have named Europe-based gangster Rohit Godara as an accused in the firing incident in front of film actor Salman Khan’s residence in the early hours of 14 April. Six people have been arrested so far from Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, according to an official statement by the Mumbai Police.
Incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol have also been named in the case. Soon after the shooting, Anmol had taken to social media to claim responsibility. A lookout notice has been issued against him.
“There is a larger conspiracy at play here. Further investigation is on. There will be more arrests,” a senior Mumbai Police officer said, asking not to be named.
Godara, who said he was behind the firing along with fugitive gangster Goldy Brar, is believed to be in alliance with the Lawrence Bishnoi-Sampat Nehra gang.
The two alleged shooters, Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21), both residents of Mahsi village in Bihar’s West Champaran district were arrested in Gujarat, 95 kilometres from Bhuj on 16 April, two days after the firing.
During interrogation, the Mumbai police’s crime branch discovered that Pal and Gupta were assigned the task by Anmol Bishnoi. The duo told the police they had no idea about the plan until the weapons were delivered to them.
Who is Rohit Godara?
Godara, believed to be in Europe, is among top gangsters who are on the radar of Indian investigating agencies. His name had also cropped up in the killing of Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi in December last year and also in the murder of singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala.
Godara, who keeps travelling between the UK and Europe, according to investigating agencies, runs the nexus from abroad like Brar since Lawrence Bishnoi is currently in prison. Godara manages the Rajasthan faction of the syndicate.
The alliance has maintained that Salman Khan is on the top of their list of planned hit jobs. The Bishnoi gang had earlier threatened Khan over the 1998 blackbuck case in which Khan is accused of hunting one down. The Bishnoi community considers the blackbuck sacred.
Shooters covered tracks
“It was well-planned and orchestrated. Both Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal were directed to throw away their phones after the firing and were also given directions on how to flee the area,” a person aware of the matter said, asking not to be named.
The motorcycle used in the firing was discovered near Mount Mary Church, just a kilometre away from Khan’s Bandra residence. Six bullets were fired in the incident.
On 26 April, Anuj Thappan (23) and Sonu Bishnoi (32) were arrested in Punjab and accused of supplying firearms to Gupta and Pal. Thappan, who was kept in the crime branch’s lock-up, was found hanging from the window grille of the toilet on 1 May.
The fifth accused, Mohammad Rafiq Chaudhary (37), was nabbed in Rajasthan. He is said to have recceed Salman Khan’s house and also shot a video which was then sent to gangster Anmol Bishnoi.
Chaudhary was presented in court by the crime branch in the second week of May and the prosecution said he was connected with Rohit Godara, who directed him to meet the shooters.
The sixth person to be arrested is Harpal Singh, 37, a resident of Sirsa in Haryana. He was caught from Fatehabad on Monday. Singh was involved in financing the two shooters through Chaudhary.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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