MUMBAI: A special court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) on Friday (November 6) directed the police to investigate the claim by Phool Singh, an accused in the Tiger Shroff firing case, that he was a minor at the time of the incident. The court also extended the police custody of Singh and four other accused till November 11.
Twelve accused, including Singh, were produced before special judge S Navandar at the end of their remand period. The court extended the police custody of Singh and four others, as sought by the police, while the remaining seven were remanded to judicial custody.
Singh's advocates, Sidhanth Mor and Divyam Gaur, told the court that he was around 17 years and 10 months old when the incident took place on October 18. They filed an application seeking an inquiry into his age and submitted copies of his birth certificate issued in Haryana and his Aadhaar card. They also sought his transfer to protective custody under the Juvenile Justice Act until his age was verified.
The court questioned why neither Singh nor his lawyers had raised the issue of his age during the three earlier remand hearings. When asked, Singh replied, "Police ne mana kia tha" (the police had told him not to).
The judge declined to send him to a juvenile home, observing that the claim could have been raised to avoid custodial interrogation. The court directed the investigating officer to submit a report on his age within 15 days.
The incident took place on October 18, when two shooters allegedly fired five rounds at Shroff's car as he was leaving a football ground in Mumbai's Juhu area. The actor escaped largely unhurt, while his driver and a bystander sustained injuries.
A social media post attributed to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the firing. Police have named Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the gang, as a wanted accused. (With inputs from PTI)