Sharpshooter, involved in attack on Rakesh Roshan in 2000, arrested
A notorious criminal and sharpshooter, who was involved in the attack on Bollywood filmmaker Rakesh Roshan earlier in 2000, has been arrested by cops in Maharashtra. The accused, Sunil V Gaikwad, 52, was arrested from Parsik Circle area in Kalwa, Thane on Friday night, three months after he jumped parole, a senior police official confirmed today. Here are more details on this.
Police received a tip-off, then laid a trap
The police had received a tip-off that Gaikwad was coming to Parsik Circle area. The officials then organized a trap and nabbed him, senior inspector of Central Crime Unit Anil Honrao told PTI. "We had received a tip-off that Gaikwad is coming to Parsik Circle area. Accordingly, we laid a trap and caught him," he said.
Roshan was shot at in Mumbai in January, 2000
To recall, Roshan was shot at outside his Santa Cruz office in Mumbai in January, 2000. Two assailants, allegedly associated with the gangs of Ali Budesh and Subhash Singh Thakur, had fired six times at him. Two bullets had hit Roshan, leaving him injured. Reportedly, the gangsters had been demanding a share in the international profits of Roshan's superhit film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.
Gaikwad had come out on parole in June
According to the police, Gaikwad has 11 cases of murder and seven cases of attempt to murder (including the attack on Roshan), filed against him. He is sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case and had been lodged at Nashik Central Jail. He was released on a 28-day parole on June 26. However, he did not return to the prison and was hiding.
He will be handed over to Pant Nagar police
"He (Gaikwad) was expected to return to jail after completion of the parole period. However, he did not do so. He was hiding," Honrao said, adding that the accused would be handed over to the Pant Nagar police, where an offense of escape was registered.
Roshan known for 'Karan Arjun' and 'Krrish' series
Rakesh Roshan had started his film career as an actor during the 1970s. He ventured into direction with the 1987 movie Khudgarz. He then went on to direct films like Khoon Bhari Maang, Khel, and Karan Arjun, among others. He has also directed Koi... Mil Gaya, Krrish and Krrish 3, all parts of a popular superhero franchise starring his son, actor Hrithik Roshan.