Mumbai: A day after the city crime branch invoked Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the Tiger Shroff firing case, a special court formally granted permission to arrest the accused. Special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves sought permission to arrest the 11 accused as the offences were enhanced to those under MCOCA.All 11 accused, including two women, were produced before special judge Satyanarayan Ramjivan Navandar at 4.15 pm. They will be brought again on Thursday for their remand hearing.MCOCA was invoked on Tuesday, citing the accused’s alleged criminal backgrounds, financial motives and a fight for supremacy.According to the police, six of the accused have criminal antecedents, while alleged wanted gang leader Anil Pandit has three charge sheets filed against him in serious criminal cases in Haryana and Punjab.Police have arrested 11 persons in the attempt-to-murder case, while Pandit has been shown as a wanted accused. He is alleged to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which investigators believe is operating from the United States.Pandit allegedly claimed responsibility for the firing through a social media post and an audio message circulated after the incident. The communication reportedly also contained threats against actor Salman Khan and other members of the film industry. Police are examining the authenticity and evidentiary value of these communications as part of the investigation.Police suspect that the attack was intended not merely to target the actor, but also to create fear and strengthen the gang’s influence. Crime branch officials have also found indications that young men with little or no criminal history were allegedly lured into serious offences through promises of financial rewards and settlement abroad. Most of those arrested are from Sonipat in Haryana.
