In a significant breakthrough, the Mumbai Crime Branch, with support from the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), has arrested 23-year-old Pradeep Sharma, also known as Golu, in connection with the February 1 shooting outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu.
The attack, allegedly orchestrated by the notorious Shubham Lonkar gang, was reportedly intended to instill fear and assert dominance within the film industry and among the public. Gunmen had opened fire near Shetty Tower, sending shockwaves across Mumbai.
Following the incident, Sharma had been evading law enforcement. He was finally tracked down in Mahavir Nagar, Agra, after a coordinated effort between Mumbai and UP police based on technical surveillance and intelligence inputs.
During questioning, Sharma admitted that social media posts from the gang influenced his actions, and that his acquaintance Shivam Dubey had encouraged him to participate. Investigations also indicate the involvement of co-accused Vishnu Kushwaha and Deepak, with the latter allegedly executing the shooting in Mumbai.
Sharma has now been handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch, which has lodged a case under the Maharashtra Police Act, the Arms Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. His arrest brings the total number of individuals detained in connection with the case to 14.
The arrest comes shortly after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a strict crackdown on gang conflicts and international crime networks, reiterating that such criminal activities would not be tolerated in Mumbai. Sharma is expected to be produced in a Mumbai court on Sunday.