A Mumbai special court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has officially framed charges against five accused in the high-profile Salman Khan house-firing case, marking a major step forward in the investigation. The order was issued by Special Judge Mahesh Jadhav on Thursday, nearly a year and a half after gunshots were fired outside the actor’s Bandra residence, Galaxy Apartment, on April 14, 2024.
The men charged include the alleged shooters Vickykumar (Vicky) Gupta and Sagarkumar (Sagar) Pal, along with Sonukumar Bishnoi, Rafiq/Mohammad Rafiq Chaudhary (Rafiq Sardar Chaudhary), and Harpal Singh. All five pleaded not guilty during the hearing and the matter will now proceed to trial. They are currently in judicial custody.
According to the charge order, the accused were acting as part of an organised crime syndicate led by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, with his brother Anmol Bishnoi also named as wanted in the case. The court noted that weapons and ammunition were allegedly provided by the Bishnoi network to execute the firing, adding that the attack was not meant merely as intimidation but carried the clear intention to kill the actor.
The shooters reportedly arrived on a motorcycle in the early hours of the morning and opened fire toward the actor’s home. Earlier statements by Salman Khan, along with details in the FIR, indicate that the shots were aimed in the direction of areas he regularly uses inside the house.
Another accused, Anujkumar Thapan, who was arrested in connection with the conspiracy, died by alleged suicide while in police custody last year.
The court observed that the firing was part of a deliberate plan to create fear among Mumbai residents and reinforce the dominance of the Bishnoi gang. With charges now framed under MCOCA, IPC, the Arms Act, and other sections, the high-stakes case is set to move into the trial stage, drawing nationwide attention as proceedings continue.
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