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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Accused trio get 10-day remand

Mumbai: A Mumbai Court has given 10 days police custody to three arrested accused in the firing on Bollywood action star Tiger Shroff in a crowded public place as the investigators attempt to unravel the conspiracy, motives, involvement of other players and related aspects of the sensational case, on Wednesday. The accused trio Rehan alias Sukka, and Phool Singh both from Sonipat in Haryana and Rhitik Kurmi alias Roshan, originally from Begusarai in Bihar but currently residing in Mumbai,...

Accused trio get 10-day remand

Mumbai: A Mumbai Court has given 10 days police custody to three arrested accused in the firing on Bollywood action star Tiger Shroff in a crowded public place as the investigators attempt to unravel the conspiracy, motives, involvement of other players and related aspects of the sensational case, on Wednesday. The accused trio Rehan alias Sukka, and Phool Singh both from Sonipat in Haryana and Rhitik Kurmi alias Roshan, originally from Begusarai in Bihar but currently residing in Mumbai, were brought here from Kota in separate vehicles early today. They were produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Esplanade Court where the police sought 14 days’ custody for the accused who are allegedly acting at the behest of the jailed mafia chief Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang. Pleading for the remand, the police lawyers argued that sustained custodial interrogation was necessary to recover the weapons used in the shooting – which the accused had thrown away while fleeing, retrieve two mobile phones which were reportedly destroyed by the accused, besides digging out the entire conspiracy, pinpoint the exact motives and identify other persons involved in the brazen attack. Opposing the plea, the accused’s lawyers Ajinkya Mirgal and Satyabrat Joshi argued that police custody was unnecessary, particularly for recovering the weapons. Mirgal and Joshi later told mediapersons that the accused had already been interrogated at a railway colony during their transit-remand period and were produced before the CMM Court just minutes before the transit remand expired this afternoon. After hearing both sides, the CMM remanded them to police custody for 10 days till October 31. It may be recalled that Shroff, 36, was targeted on the evening of October 18 near Pushpa Narsee Park in Juhu. Despite being a heavily crowded area, the assailants were seen firing at least 5-6 rounds at the actor’s car before fleeing on a motorcycle. A shaken Shroff escaped relatively unhurt, sustaining minor bruises, but his driver and a bystander suffered injuries. Following the incident, the Mumbai Police registered a case of attempted murder and offences under the Arms Act, and launched an interstate investigation involving Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, and later Gujarat and Delhi. The Mumbai Police formed 20 teams to hunt down the attackers, recovered the second-hand motorcycle outside Andheri station where it was abandoned and tracked their journey through different modes of transport from Mumbai to Surat and Kota. Acting on a tech-intel alert from Mumbai Police, the Kota Police lay in wait for them and apprehended them from the general coach of the Pune-Jaipur Superfast Express on Monday morning. Initial probe revealed that the assailants were planning to flee the country after travelling to the borders via Jaipur and Delhi. They were lured by the promise of sneaking them out of India to a foreign country, possibly Canada and rehabilitating them. Three key accused brought to Mumbai from Kota Three key accused apprehended in connection with the firing at actor Tiger Shroff’s car were brought to Mumbai from Kota in Rajasthan early on Wednesday, police said. Police brought them by road from Kota to Mumbai and, upon arrival, immediately took them to GT Hospital for a mandatory medical examination, an official said. Following the medical check-up, the accused were escorted to the Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) office for interrogation. The accused have been identified as Rehan alias Sukka, from Sonipat in Haryana; Ritik Kurmi alias Roshan, originally from Begusarai in Bihar and living in Mumbai; and Phool Singh from Haryana, the official said. The Kota city police had handed them over to Mumbai Police, which formally arrested them and produced them before a magistrate there. The court granted transit remand to take them to Mumbai. Meanwhile, advocate Ajinkya Mirgal arrived at the AEC office in Mumbai on Wednesday morning, informing officials that he would represent the accused as their defence counsel in the case. At least two men fired gunshots at Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening before speeding away on a motorcycle. The actor escaped relatively unhurt, while his driver and a bystander were injured. According to Mumbai Police, five to six rounds were fired at the car. A motorcycle, allegedly used by the shooters, was found abandoned in Andheri. The accused fled to Surat and once there, boarded a Jaipur-bound train. The three were supposed to go to Delhi on a bus and then flee to Nepal. The Mumbai Police have registered a case under the provisions of attempt to murder and the Arms Act. According to the police, Rehan was in touch with Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which claimed responsibility for the attack in an unverified social media post. On Tuesday, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested four more persons, including two women, in connection with the firing case. Police suspect they were acting on the directions of Anil Pandit, a gangster operating from abroad, an official earlier said. The four accused, identified as Kunal (21), Sumit (19), Radha (23), and Babita (23), were apprehended from Delhi and Haryana. According to police, Kunal allegedly collected a pistol and 20 rounds from Amritsar on the instructions of Anil Pandit, with Sumit accompanying him. Radha and Babita allegedly travelled to Mumbai with the weapon. Following the arrest, the police said the motive of the shooting was being ascertained, while the way Shroff was attacked, the assailants planned to kill him.

New face of Bihar’s Luv-Kush politics after Nitish

Writer: Akhilesh Sinha
Akhilesh Sinha
Jun 21
4 min read

New Delhi: For nearly two decades, the Luv-Kush political equation has remained one of the most influential social and electoral formations in Bihar. The alliance between the Kurmi and Koeri (Kushwaha) communities was transformed into a formidable political force largely under the leadership of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, as Nitish Kumar gradually steps back from active state politics and increasingly assumes a role in the Rajya Sabha, a crucial question is beginning to dominate Bihar’s political discourse that who will inherit the leadership of the Luv-Kush political bloc?


In the current political landscape, Rajya Sabha MP and National President of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), Upendra Kushwaha, appears to be one of the strongest contenders to fill that space.


Some leaders within the Janata Dal (United) have been making efforts to establish Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, as a political figure. However, Nishant has so far focused more on Bihar’s overall development, social engagement, and the state’s future challenges rather than caste-based politics. He has been touring districts and interacting with people on the vision of a “Developed Bihar.”


In contrast, Upendra Kushwaha’s political career has been deeply rooted in electoral politics, social representation, and issues concerning backward communities. This has helped him build an image as an experienced grassroots leader with a long-standing political presence.


Caste equations continue to play a significant role in Bihar’s electoral politics. In this context, Kushwaha’s strong influence within the Kushwaha community provides him with a considerable political advantage. Although Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also belongs to the Koeri community and enjoys substantial support among its members, political observers believe that Upendra Kushwaha’s appeal extends beyond a single caste group. Analysts point out that he has long been associated with the broader Luv-Kush political alliance and possesses the potential to emerge as a wider representative of both communities.


Recent developments within the RLM have further strengthened this perception. The party’s national convention, held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, offered important indications about Kushwaha’s future political direction. The resolutions passed and issues raised during the convention suggested that he has already outlined a roadmap for the next ten years.


Political Agenda

Rather than limiting himself to caste representation, Kushwaha has expanded his political agenda to include Bihar’s development, judicial reforms, delimitation, social justice, and agriculture-based industrial growth.

During the convention, the party acknowledged the development achieved in Bihar over the past two decades under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. Improvements in roads, electricity, transportation, and drinking water infrastructure were highlighted as significant milestones in the state’s progress.


At the same time, the party emphasized that Bihar still has a long way to go before it can compete with the country’s leading states. Particular attention was drawn to the need for stronger investment in education, healthcare, industry, and employment generation. The convention stressed that creating large-scale job opportunities within the state is essential to reducing the migration of young people in search of work.


Judicial reform has also emerged as one of Upendra Kushwaha’s key political priorities. The RLM has questioned the existing collegium system for judicial appointments and called for greater transparency in the selection of judges. The party advocates the creation of an Indian Judicial Service (IJS), with appointments made through a nationwide competitive examination similar to the system followed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Through its “Halla Bol, Darwaza Khol” campaign, Kushwaha has been attempting to elevate this issue into a subject of national debate.


The party has also linked the proposed 2026 delimitation exercise to Bihar’s political rights and representation. According to the RLM, Bihar has not received parliamentary representation proportionate to its population. Party leaders argue that had the freeze on delimitation not remained in place for decades, Bihar could have gained nearly 20 additional Lok Sabha seats. Consequently, the party is demanding that the upcoming delimitation exercise be conducted on the basis of actual population figures to ensure fair representation


On cultural and social issues, the party has sought to carve out a distinct identity. Proposals such as renaming Patna as Pataliputra, declaring the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule as National Women’s Education Day, and promoting a renewed discourse on social justice are being viewed as part of this broader political strategy.


Economically, Kushwaha has strongly advocated agriculture-based industrialization as the foundation of Bihar’s future growth. He has argued for the expansion of industries linked to maize, sugarcane, litchi, makhana, dairy, and fisheries, describing them as effective tools for generating employment and curbing migration. According to him, Bihar cannot achieve sustained economic momentum unless agriculture is integrated more closely with industrial development.


Overall, Bihar’s politics appears to be entering a period of transition. As Nitish Kumar’s active role gradually diminishes, political stakeholders are searching for a new center of leadership within the influential Luv-Kush social alliance. In this evolving landscape, Upendra Kushwaha is positioning himself as a natural claimant to that space, leveraging his caste base, political experience, and engagement with broader governance issues.


Whether he ultimately succeeds in becoming the new axis of Bihar’s Luv-Kush politics or whether the state produces an entirely new political equation remains one of the most intriguing questions for the years ahead.

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