Illegal arms and grenades seized in Mumbai probe

Investigation into Stray Firing Incident in Vasai East

MUMBAI: An investigation into a stray firing incident linked to a domestic dispute in Vasai East escalated when police discovered firearms and a hand grenade at the accused’s house in Mumbra. The suspect was arrested on Sunday. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) dispatched two teams to Uttar Pradesh to trace the source of the arms and explosives.

Details of the Incident

According to the police, the incident occurred early Friday morning. Shivshankar Vishwakarma, 42, fired a bullet at his sister Pushpa’s house in Waghral Pada, Vasai East. No one was injured as family members were sleeping on the floor, and the bullet struck a window. After the incident, Pushpa approached the Waliv police to file a complaint against him. Based on CCTV footage and other evidence, police identified Vishwakarma and traced him to Diwa, where he was arrested on Sunday morning. A search of his house in Mumbra revealed two country-made revolvers, several live cartridges, and a live hand grenade.

ATS Investigation and Findings

The case was referred to the ATS. They began parallel investigations to identify the supply network and possible links to organized arms trafficking. During questioning, Vishwakarma disclosed that he had obtained the weapons from a seller in Uttar Pradesh. Consequently, the ATS sent two teams to Uttar Pradesh to locate the dealer, according to a police officer.

Background of the Dispute

The police investigation indicated that the firing stemmed from a long-standing family dispute. Pushpa had mortgaged her jewelry and borrowed around ₹1 lakh from private lenders to fund Vishwakarma’s bail in 2025. He had promised to repay the amount by selling land in his native village. However, after his release, he failed to do so, leading to tensions as creditors demanded repayment. Frustrated by his sister’s repeated demands, Vishwakarma allegedly moved out and began living in Mumbra, where he planned and executed the shooting on Friday morning.

Criminal History and Court Proceedings

“Vishwakarma has a criminal past and was arrested in 2018 by Pant Nagar police for murdering his wife, Chandrakala. He stabbed her to death at their Ghatkopar home following a domestic altercation,” the officer stated.

After his arrest in the recent firing case, he was presented before a local court and remanded in police custody until January 12. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the seized arms and explosives, and other agencies have been notified, the officer added.