Mumbai, February 25 A special court on Wednesday extended the police custody of the prime suspect and six others in the firing at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's house case until March 4, citing the need for a comprehensive investigation into certain aspects of the crime, such as reconnaissance of the location.
The police sought an additional ten days of custody, citing that some recoveries related to weapons were yet to be made. Further investigation was also required regarding the reconnaissance conducted by the accused.
The court was also informed that additional sections of the Arms Act have been added to the case.
The accused, including the shooter Deepak Sharma, were arrested on February 14 from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
They were produced before a special judge for cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Satyanarayan Navandar, at the end of their previous remand on Wednesday.
Advocate Dilip Shukla, representing all the accused, opposed the police's demand for extending the custody by ten days. He argued that, in the interest of justice, a short period of custody could be given to the police.
Special Judge Navandar, after hearing both sides, noted that, considering the scope of the investigation, sufficient time is needed to be given to the police.
At least five shots were fired at the first floor of Shetty's nine-story building in Juhu on February 1. One bullet struck the glass of a gym inside the building.
Police have so far arrested 12 individuals, and five of them are currently in judicial custody.
Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Shubham Lonkar had claimed responsibility for the incident in a social media post.
Lonkar is an accused in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique and in the firing at Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence in Bandra.
