A special MCOCA court in Mumbai has denied bail to Vicky Gupta, the primary accused in the shooting incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence in April this year. The decision, delivered on Friday, keeps Gupta in judicial custody as the investigation progresses.
The court, presided over by Special Judge BD Shelke, rejected the bail plea after carefully considering the arguments presented by both the defense and the prosecution. Advocate Amit Mishra, representing Gupta, argued for his release on bail, highlighting Gupta’s claims that he was influenced by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s public persona. Gupta even stated that he was drawn to Bishnoi’s philosophy, citing Bishnoi’s admiration for Bhagat Singh.
However, the Mumbai Police strongly opposed the bail plea, arguing that the crime was committed at the behest of Bishnoi’s syndicate, which operates from prison. They expressed concerns that granting bail to Gupta would allow him to inform Bishnoi about the ongoing investigation and potentially lead to the destruction of crucial evidence. Police also emphasized that Gupta purchased the motorcycle used in the shooting at the behest of Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi, further strengthening their case against him.
The incident, which occurred on April 14th, involved multiple rounds fired outside Khan’s residence, Galaxy Apartments. The Mumbai Police arrested Gupta and his co-accused, Sagar Pal, following the incident. Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol are currently listed as wanted accused in the case. Other individuals in judicial custody include Sonukumar Bishnoi, Mohd Rafiq Choudhary, and Harpal Singh. Notably, one accused, Anujkumar Thapan, allegedly committed suicide while in custody.
The chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police identifies Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi as the masterminds behind the shooting incident. The case continues to unfold with ongoing investigations and the potential for further developments.