The Mumbai police or for that matter several state police forces across the country are in a peculiar position where they cannot take custody of the alleged main conspirator of the crime taking place in their jurisdiction when it comes to the Bishnoi gang.
In the firing outside director Rohit Shetty’s residence on Sunday, a social media account allegedly linked to the Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility. There are bleak chances that the Mumbai police may get access to the Bishnoi brothers lodged in prisons in the country this time around as well.
In the firing outside the residence of actor Salman Khan outside Galaxy apartments in Bandra on April 14, 2024, the Mumbai Police in their chargesheet named Lawrence Bishnoi as the conspirator. He was named as an “absconding accused” in the chargesheet.
Sources also point out that accused gang leaders often continue to allegedly operate their networks from within prison through associates and digital means, further complicating investigations. While police can name them as conspirators based on evidence, producing them physically for questioning or custodial interrogation remains a significant challenge.
Senior officers acknowledge that unless there is a coordinated national-level approach or specific court directions, police forces investigating fresh cases linked to the Bishnoi gang may continue to face difficulties in obtaining custody.
For now, the Mumbai Police are focusing on tracking local shooters, digital trails, and financial links connected to the latest firing incidents, even as the alleged masterminds remain behind bars elsewhere.
