Tiger Shroff firing case: All 11 accused re-arrested under MCOCA after Mumbai special court nod

All 11 people arrested over the 18 October firing on actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area were re-arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) on Wednesday (28 October), after a special court in Mumbai allowed the Crime Branch to proceed under the law, The Hindu and PTI reported.

The accused, who include two women, were produced before special judge Satyanarayan Ramjivan Navandar at 4.15 pm, The Times of India reported. Special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves sought permission to arrest them because the charges had been upgraded to MCOCA offences. They were to be produced again on Thursday (29 October), when police were expected to seek their remand.

The Crime Branch invoked Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2) and 3(4) of MCOCA against all 11 on Tuesday (27 October), after getting approval from the competent authority, according to The Hindu. The case was first registered on 19 October for attempt to murder and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with offences under the Arms Act.

On 18 October, two assailants allegedly opened fire on Shroff’s car as he was leaving a football ground in Juhu. Five rounds were fired. The actor escaped largely unhurt, while his driver and a bystander were injured, The Hindu reported. Members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang later claimed responsibility.

Police have named Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, as a wanted accused. According to The Times of India, Pandit allegedly claimed responsibility in a social media post and an audio message that also carried threats against actor Salman Khan and others in the film industry. Police are examining whether those messages are authentic.

Three of the 11 accused were arrested in Kota, Rajasthan, and the rest from other places, including Delhi and Haryana. Most of them are from Sonipat in Haryana, The Times of India reported. Investigators believe young men with little or no criminal history were allegedly lured in with promises of money and a life abroad.

Why does MCOCA matter? Under the 1999 law, a court can grant bail only if it is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not guilty. Police get up to 180 days, instead of 90, to file a chargesheet, and confessions recorded before an officer of the rank of deputy commissioner of police can be used as evidence, PTI reported.

The Indian Idiot earlier reported on arrests in the case, including the first three suspects held in Kota.