Singh, who was arrested from Bhubhaneshwar in Orissa on January 23 by the Delhi Police, was brought to Mumbai on a transit remand.

The shootout for which Singh was arrested, took place on September 12, 1992. Twenty-four persons, including Singh, armed with 9 mm pistols, .32 revolvers and AK-47 assault rifles barged into ward number 18 of the JJ Hospital at 0200 hrs and opened fire on Shailesh Haldankar — a member of the Arun Gawli gang who was admitted in the hospital for treatment. Haldankar was accused in a murder case of Ismail Parkar, brother-in-law of Dawood Ibrahim and husband of Haseena Parkar.

Two police constables who were guarding Haldankar were also killed in the shootout. Also, other police officials and 10 patients were injured.

Special public prosecutor Rohini Salian told the court that it was important to find out the extent of Singh’s involvement as he had actively participated in the firing. “The police need his custody to interrogate him in connection with the whereabouts of the 13 absconding co-accused in the case and also trace the weapons used for the shootout,” said Salian.

The special TADA court had earlier convicted three accused— Subhash Singh Thakur, then Bhiwandi mayor, Surya Rao and Shyam Kishore Garikapatt — while discharging six others, Salian contended. The remaining eight accused were either killed in gang rivalry or police encounters, she added. Thakur was sentenced to death which was then reduced to a life sentence “for rest of life without parole” by the apex court.

Singh has been booked under the stringent TADA, Arms Act and several sections of the Indian Penal Code.