Vishal Gupta Arrested in Rameswaram for Nagpur Firing Incident
The alleged mastermind behind the shooting at Congress Corporator Shubham Motghare's residence has been apprehended in Tamil Nadu.
Vishal Gupta, the alleged mastermind, was arrested in Rameswaram.
The shooting incident occurred on August 26 at Motghare's home in Bhandewadi.
Police have arrested seven other suspects and are investigating links to drug trafficking.
In a significant development, Vishal Gupta, also known as Phalli, was arrested by the Nagpur Crime Branch in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday morning. Gupta is suspected of orchestrating the shooting at the residence of Congress Corporator Shubham Motghare in Bhandewadi, which took place on August 26. His capture followed a meticulous surveillance operation that tracked him after he fled Maharashtra.
The incident occurred around 12:42 AM when a bullet shattered a glass panel at Motghare's home. CCTV footage captured two individuals fleeing the scene on a motorcycle. Following the shooting, the Bhandewadi Police initiated an investigation, leading to charges of attempted murder against unidentified assailants. Investigators identified Gupta as the individual who allegedly contracted the attack, prompting further inquiries into the motives and the roles of other suspects involved.
As part of the ongoing investigation, police have apprehended seven individuals linked to the case, including Ankush Jhanak Tomarkar and Rishabh Vishal Nagdeve. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has been invoked against these suspects, indicating the severity of the crime. Authorities are still searching for additional suspects, including Ashok Yadav and Saheli Pandharam, whose connections to Gupta and the shooting are under scrutiny.
In a related investigation, police seized over 1 kg of suspected MD (mephedrone) during a raid connected to Gupta's whereabouts. This led to the arrest of five individuals, raising questions about the potential links between drug trafficking and the shooting incident. Investigators believe that the seized drugs were sourced from Rajasthan and intended for distribution in Nagpur, with Bhupendra Singh identified as a key suspect in the drug supply chain.
With Gupta now in custody, police are focusing on unraveling the conspiracy behind the shooting and exploring any connections to the drug trafficking network. The interrogation of Gupta is expected to yield crucial information regarding the planning of the attack and the involvement of other suspects. Authorities are keen to establish the full extent of Gupta's alleged criminal activities as investigations continue to unfold.
