MCOCA Applied in Shubham Motghare Firing Incident
Nagpur police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against seven individuals in connection with the shooting at Congress corporator Shubham Motghare's home.
Seven individuals arrested in connection with the shooting at Shubham Motghare's residence.
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act invoked, indicating organized crime involvement.
Investigation includes recovery of a country-made pistol and ongoing search for absconding accused.
In a significant development regarding the shooting incident at the residence of Congress corporator Shubham Motghare, Nagpur police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against seven arrested individuals. This decision follows an investigation by Crime Branch Unit-5, which has revealed potential links to an organized criminal gang. The incident occurred in the early hours of August 26, 2026, at Motghare's home in the Shravannagar area.
The shooting incident unfolded around 12:42 AM when a gunshot was heard near the gallery of Motghare's residence. At the time, he was on the upper floor, and the bullet reportedly shattered the glass in the gallery, raising alarms among local residents. Police reviewed CCTV footage from the vicinity, which showed two suspects on a moped heading towards Swaminarayan Mandir Road, prompting further investigation into their identities and motives.
The investigation has identified Vishal alias Phalli Gupta as the absconding mastermind behind the attack, allegedly hiring two individuals, Ankush and Rishabh, to execute the shooting. Additional suspects, including Ashok alias Baba Yadav and Saheli Pandharam alias Sonu, have also been implicated in the conspiracy. As the investigation continues, police are scrutinizing communications among the accused to understand the planning behind the attack.
The invocation of MCOCA against the seven arrested individuals marks a critical escalation in this case, as it pertains to organized crime. The specific sections invoked include 3(1)(ii), 3(2), and 3(4), which relate to organized crime and associated liabilities. While these charges do not imply guilt, they significantly broaden the legal framework within which the case will be prosecuted.
In addition to the arrests, police have recovered a country-made pistol and live cartridges valued at approximately Rs 60,000 during the investigation. The case, initially handled by Bhandewadi police, was transferred to Crime Branch Unit-5 on September 4, 2026, which is now tasked with tracing the absconding accused and solidifying the evidence of conspiracy. The next steps will focus on locating Vishal alias Phalli Gupta and furthering the investigation into the alleged organized crime network behind the attack.
