Mumbai: In a joint operation, the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) apprehended Pradeep Sharma alias Golu on Saturday in connection with the firing on filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence. Sharma is the 14th accused to be arrested in the case. He will be produced before a Mumbai court on Sunday.According to the STF, the Mumbai Crime Branch learnt Sharma’s location through technical surveillance and sought help from the force. Sharma, 23, was picked up from Agra after receiving specific information about his location.While speaking in the Legislative Council recently, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Shubham Lonkar, an operative linked to the Bishnoi gang, was identified as the prime accused in the case.According to the STF, Sharma was influenced by social media posts made by the Lonkar gang. He told the STF that a former aide, Shivam Dube, asked him to carry out the offence. Thereafter, Sharma roped in two other Agra residents, Vishnu Kushwaha and Deepak.On Feb 1, Deepak travelled to Mumbai and shot at Shetty’s residence. Police said five rounds were fired outside the building and one bullet struck a glass panel. Last year, on Dube’s instructions, Deepak fired at another individual’s home in Rajasthan on May 28. He was arrested by the police along with the firearm then, the STF said.On Feb 15 this year, the STF arrested Deepak, Kushwaha and their five other associates for the firing at Shetty’s house. The group went into hiding to avoid getting caught by the police.Following the firing at Shetty’s residence, police increased patrolling, checkpoints and preventive action against habitual offenders.Chief minister Fadnavis also informed the Legislative Council that the state sought custody of Anmol Bishnoi, who is currently in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA)..
