Vicky Kumar Gupta, one of the accused in the April 14 firing at actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence, has filed a bail plea in the special MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) court, claiming that the attack was not intended to cause harm but was meant to issue a threat. Gupta’s plea was filed on Monday, and he is seeking bail on the grounds that he was a mere pawn in a larger criminal scheme.
According to Gupta’s bail application, the firing was orchestrated by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and supervised by Anmol Bishnoi, the gang leader’s Canada-based brother. Gupta, along with co-accused Sagar Kumar Pal, allegedly executed the attack. Gupta’s plea states that he was misled into participating in the crime under the pretense of a religious mission.
Gupta’s plea details his claim that he was a victim of circumstances. After losing his job as a laborer in Tamil Nadu during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gupta reached out to Pal, a native from his village, for assistance. Pal offered him work in Jalandhar, Punjab, but once there, Gupta was instructed to go to Mumbai for what he was told would be a religious mission. It was only upon arriving in Mumbai that Gupta was informed by Anmol Bishnoi about the plan to threaten Salman Khan.
In his plea, Gupta asserts that he was assured by Anmol Bishnoi that he would be safe and that his role in the crime was limited to driving and ferrying Pal to the crime scene. The actual firing at Khan’s residence was allegedly carried out by Pal.
Gupta has requested bail, citing his responsibility as the sole breadwinner for his elderly mother, wife, and two children. He argues that the trial is likely to be prolonged and that he should be released on bail pending the proceedings.
The special judge, BD Shelke, has directed the Mumbai police crime branch to respond to Gupta’s bail application and scheduled the next hearing for August 13.
The police chargesheet, spanning 1,735 pages, names nine individuals, including Gupta, Pal, and Anmol Bishnoi. The accused in custody also include Sonukumar Bishnoi, Mohd Rafiq Choudhary, Harpal Singh, and Anujkumar Thapan. Notably, Thapan is reported to have died by suicide while in police custody. The remaining accused are currently held in judicial custody.
Sources By Agencies
