Mumbai: Paving the way for trial to commence against five accused allegedly involved in the attempted murder of actor Salman Khan, a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court this month framed 15 separate charges against them. On April 14, 2024, a motorcyclist and a pillion rider discharged several rounds at the balcony of Khan’s Galaxy Apartment home in Bandra. The alleged organised crime syndicate head, Lawrence Bishnoi, is absconding. Lawrence’s brother, Anmol Bishnoi, also an accused, was recently deported from the US.Explaining each of the charges under the stringent MCOCA, Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, and Maharashtra Police Act, Special Judge Mahesh K Jadhav said, “From Aug 2022 to April 2024, the accused conspired to commit the murder of the victim using firearms to create terror in the minds of the citizens of Mumbai city for establishing supremacy and with the object of obtaining undue pecuniary and other advantages.”The accused—Vickykumar Sahebsaha Gupta (24), a farmer, Sagarkumar Pal (23), who works in private service, Sonukumar Bishnoi (35), a farmer, Mohammed Sardar Choudhari (37), a milk seller, and Harpal Singh alias Harry (25), an AC mechanic—pleaded not guilty to the charges. The maximum sentence attracted is life imprisonment. Once charges are framed and the accused plead not guilty, the court summons witnesses. The accused are all in custody since their arrests.Six accused were arrested following the April 14, 2024, firing. One accused, Anuj Thapan, died in custody. Anmol Bishnoi, also an accused is currently in custody in a 2022 case involving an alleged nexus between criminal gangs in India and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a designated terrorist organisation, to raise funds, recruit youths, and carry out terror strikes in the country. Another absconding accused, Ravtaram Santdas Swami alias Rohit Godara, has since died.The prosecution alleges the accused were acting as members of a sophisticated organised crime syndicate. The charges outline specific roles in the alleged conspiracy and attack, which culminated in the firing incident at around 4:45am at Khan’s residence in Bandstand, Bandra.Choudhari allegedly conducted a recce of the home, Harpal Singh provided gathered information and videos to the wanted accused. Bishnoi and Thapan are accused of providing the weapons, including two pistols, four magazines, and 40 live cartridges, to the shooters. Gupta and Pal are accused of using the firearms to fire towards the residence with the intent to kill the victim. They are also accused of causing the disappearance of evidence, including the clothes, identity cards, weapons, and bullets used in the offence. Pal is also charged with receiving cash or funds acquired from the organised crime syndicate.The judge noted that the syndicate is linked to previous serious charges, including two pending cases in Jaipur and one with the NIA in New Delhi, covering offences like attempted murder, extortion, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges, meeting the criteria for prosecution under MCOCA.
