Tiger Shroff Firing: Congress Accuses Maharashtra Government of Failing to Curb Organised Crime

Sapkal questioned how jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi allegedly continues to operate a criminal network from Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, alleging that such activities could not continue without political protection or official patronage. The allegations have not been independently established.

In a statement on Monday, Sapkal cited the firing incidents involving Tiger Shroff, filmmaker Rohit Shetty and actor Salman Khan, along with the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, as examples of what he described as a deteriorating law-and-order situation.

He also raised concerns over restrictions on transferring Bishnoi from Sabarmati Jail for interrogation. An order issued under Section 268 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in August 2023 restricted his transfer from the prison, according to Sapkal. He urged the state government to approach the Union Home Ministry to address the legal hurdles and facilitate further questioning of the gangster in connection with cases in Mumbai.

Sapkal criticised Fadnavis’s public statements about targeting the leaders of organised crime networks, arguing that the government needed to demonstrate concrete action rather than issue warnings.

He also alleged that the Mumbai Police’s effectiveness had been undermined by the alleged misuse of law enforcement for extortion and political intimidation. Citing the case of former Congress MLA Rahul Bondre, Sapkal claimed that Bondre had faced police harassment after refusing to join the BJP.

“If a famous film actor can be targeted in broad daylight in the heart of Mumbai, what safety remains for the common citizen? How is Lawrence Bishnoi operating his entire syndicate from an Ahmedabad prison? This is simply impossible without the direct blessings of the government,” Sapkal said.

He further questioned what he described as inconsistent enforcement, pointing to instances in which police agencies from other states had pursued investigations or arrests across state boundaries while Maharashtra had not secured the transfer of Bishnoi for questioning.

“What relation does Bishnoi have with the BJP that he receives such official protection?” he asked, reiterating his demand that the state government pursue legal measures to bring the gangster to Mumbai for interrogation and prosecution wherever warranted.

Sapkal said the government should resign if it could not effectively tackle organised crime, drug trafficking and illegal sand mining.

Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) had also criticised the MahaYuti government over the firing incident involving Tiger Shroff.

The opposition’s criticism comes amid concerns over alleged extortion calls and threats targeting public figures and members of the film industry. The state government faces mounting demands from opposition parties to demonstrate tangible progress in addressing these security concerns.