Gupta is accused of participating in the shooting outside Khan’s Galaxy Apartments in Bandra, an incident believed to have been orchestrated with the intention of killing the actor.
In their submission to the special court for Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) cases, police argued that Gupta’s release could jeopardise the investigation. They expressed fears that he might communicate with Lawrence Bishnoi, the alleged mastermind behind the attack, who is currently incarcerated in Ahmedabad on unrelated charges. The police suggested that the accused could inform Bishnoi of the ongoing investigation, potentially leading to the destruction of vital evidence.
Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious gangster, has not yet been arrested in connection with the Salman shooting case, although he is widely believed to have planned the attack. Police allege that the accused was heavily influenced by the gangster’s image, which has been magnified by media coverage. In his bail plea, Gupta’s lawyers, Amit Mishra and Pankaj Ghildiyal, argued that their client had been “magnetically attached to the principles” of Bishnoi, who is known to idolise the revolutionary Bhagat Singh.
According to the police, Gupta played an active role in the crime, purchasing the motorcycle used in the attack under the direction of Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi, who remains at large. The police stated that he received instructions from Anmol via the Signal app before he and co-accused Sagar Pal executed the shooting in the early hours of April 14, 2024.
The police further noted that the accused, a resident of Bihar, poseses a flight risk if granted bail. In addition to the two, other individuals currently in judicial custody in connection with the case include Sonukumar Bishnoi, Mohd Rafiq Choudhary, and Harpal Singh.
Another accused, Anujkumar Thapan, reportedly died by suicide while in police custody.
The special court has scheduled the next hearing on Gupta’s bail application for September 3.
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