Court sends accused in Tiger Shroff firing case to police custody till October 31

Mumbai: A court has sent the accused in the firing case linked to actor Tiger Shroff to police custody till October 31. At the hearing in the Killa Court, Mumbai Police had sought 14 days' police custody for investigation, but the court granted 10 days.

The police told the court that the accused had to be questioned to probe the weapon used, the destroyed mobile phones and the possible conspiracy behind the crime.

When produced in court, the accused initially refused to sign the vakalatnama. They asked what the paper was for and why they had to sign it. After their lawyers explained, they signed it. Security was tight outside the Killa Court during the hearing.

The police told the court that after the firing, the accused destroyed two mobile phones used in the crime. These phones have to be found, and it has to be established where the weapon was hidden or thrown away. According to the police, the crime has a wide reach and the investigation will require travel to other states as well. They also have to establish where the accused got the weapon, whether they have more weapons and whether anyone else was involved.

In this case, a threat has reportedly been issued in the name of Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. After the firing, an audio clip surfaced, which added to the seriousness of the case. The police told the court that they also have to investigate whether the audio clip and the firing are connected.

The accused had fled after the firing. They were later arrested from Kota in Rajasthan and brought to Mumbai on transit remand.

At the hearing, the accused's lawyers opposed police custody. They claimed their clients had nothing to do with the crime. The defence said the accused were innocent and not involved in any conspiracy, so there was no need to keep them in police custody any longer.

The defence also argued that the accused had already been in police custody for 48 hours and had been questioned. Transit remand had also been granted and the police had made some important seizures. It was therefore demanded that they be sent to judicial custody instead of being given further police custody.

The prosecution told the court that CCTV footage was scanned to trace the accused and a lead on a two-wheeler was found, after which they were arrested. The police clarified that more people may be involved in the case and that their roles have to be established. According to the police, other accused have also been arrested in the investigation. Efforts are under way to piece together information from action taken in different states and uncover the entire conspiracy.

The investigation is now expected to pick up pace after the Killa Court's order. The police will focus on the destroyed mobile phones, the weapon used in the firing, the audio clip with the threat and the roles of other suspects. Meanwhile, it has been stated that Mumbai Police will give more information at a press conference at 5.30 pm.