The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Monday, 19 October launched a sharp offensive against the MahaYuti government following a high-profile firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff's vehicle in Mumbai, with MPCC President Harshwardhan Sapkal accusing Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis of presiding over complete lawlessness in the state.

Congress's Core Charges

Sapkal questioned how jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi continues to allegedly run an extensive criminal empire from inside Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad, arguing that such operations are 'simply impossible without the direct blessings of the government.' He demanded immediate accountability from the ruling dispensation and called for concrete enforcement action rather than public rhetoric.

Sapkal pointed to a series of high-profile incidents as evidence of a broken law-enforcement ecosystem — the attack on Tiger Shroff, threats against film producer Rohit Shetty, repeated security threats to actor Salman Khan, and the murder of former minister Baba Siddique — asserting that criminals 'no longer fear the police.'

The Bishnoi Legal Immunity Question

At the centre of the Congress critique is a Ministry of Home Affairs order issued under Section 268 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in August 2023. The order bars state police forces from transferring Bishnoi out of Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail for interrogation — a restriction that is reportedly renewed every year. Sapkal challenged the state government to request the Union Home Ministry to revoke Bishnoi's legal immunity and bring him to Mumbai for interrogation and trial.

'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?' Sapkal said, demanding answers from the ruling alliance.

Political Intimidation Allegations

Sapkal also alleged that the Mumbai Police force's deterrence has eroded because law enforcement is being deployed for political intimidation rather than crime control. He cited ongoing police pressure on former Congress MLA Rahul Bondre after Bondre reportedly refused to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Drawing an unflattering contrast, Sapkal noted that Assam Police can travel to Gujarat or Delhi to arrest opposition politicians and that FIRs filed in Bihar can trigger CBI probes in Mumbai — yet the Maharashtra government claims helplessness when it comes to interrogating a gangster lodged in a Gujarat jail.

Opposition Closes Ranks

The Congress offensive was not a solo effort. Both Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) also slammed the BJP-led MahaYuti government over the Tiger Shroff attack, reflecting a broader consolidation of opposition sentiment around the state's deteriorating law-and-order record. The coordinated criticism comes amid growing public concern over organised extortion calls and violent threats directed at both public representatives and Bollywood personalities.

What Happens Next

Pressure is mounting on the MahaYuti government to move beyond warnings and deliver visible enforcement outcomes. Sapkal explicitly demanded that Fadnavis 'extradite Bishnoi to Mumbai, interrogate him, and prosecute him under the law,' warning that failure to rein in gangsters, drug lords, and sand mafias would cost the government its 'moral right to remain in power.' How the Centre and the state respond to the extradition demand is likely to define the next phase of this political and law-enforcement battle.