BB Desk
Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff was targeted by unidentified assailants who opened fire at his car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening, October 18, setting off a major police investigation that culminated in the arrest of three suspects at Kota railway station in Rajasthan on Monday. The actor escaped unhurt, while his driver and another person were reported injured in the incident.
The incident occurred at around 7 pm near Pushpa Narsee Park in Juhu, within the jurisdiction of Juhu Police Station, as Shroff was leaving a football ground after playing a match. According to preliminary police accounts, three men arrived on a motorcycle and allegedly opened fire at the actor’s BMW as he was leaving the premises. The sudden burst of gunfire caused panic in the area, with people nearby reportedly scrambling for cover. Videos circulating online purportedly capture the commotion following the shooting.
Shroff was inside the vehicle when the firing took place and escaped without being struck by a bullet only sustaining minor injuries from gunpowder and broken glass. His driver, identified as Firdos, suffered a gunshot wound on his left arm. An autorickshaw driver who was reportedly in the vicinity was also injured. The actor and his driver were taken to Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle for medical treatment. Shroff’s condition was subsequently reported to be stable, easing immediate concerns about his safety.
Immediately after the shooting, the assailants allegedly sped away on the motorcycle, leaving investigators to piece together their movements through CCTV footage and other evidence. Preliminary accounts suggest only two of the three men were involved in firing, while the third waited on the motorcycle to facilitate their escape. Police later traced the suspected getaway route through parts of Mumbai’s western suburbs, including stretches of SV Road, Vile Parle, and Andheri. Investigators also found the motorcycle allegedly used in the attack abandoned near Andheri West railway station, a development that provided an important lead in tracing the suspects.
As the investigation gathered pace, Mumbai Police registered a case in connection with the firing and began examining CCTV footage from the crime scene and the suspected escape route. Police teams were deployed to identify the men seen in the footage, establish how they had reached Juhu and determine where they went after abandoning the motorcycle. The investigation was subsequently transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch in view of the seriousness of the offence, with the case including an attempt-to-murder charge. Investigators also expanded their search beyond Mumbai, with leads reportedly taking them towards Gujarat and other locations as they attempted to establish the suspects’ whereabouts.
One of the principal lines of investigation concerns the possibility that the attackers had conducted reconnaissance before the shooting. Investigators suspect that the men may have known about Shroff’s regular Sunday visits to the Juhu football ground and timed the attack to coincide with his departure. Reports suggest the suspects may have monitored the actor’s routine and familiarised themselves with the area before carrying out the attack.
The breakthrough came on Monday, October 19, when three suspects were apprehended at Kota railway station in Rajasthan while travelling by train after allegedly fleeing Mumbai. The operation involved the Anti-Gangster Task Force and Rajasthan Police, with coordination between the agencies helping investigators locate the men. The suspects were reportedly travelling from Mumbai towards Delhi when they were intercepted. Their apprehension marked a significant development less than 24 hours after the firing, although their alleged individual roles in the attack will need to be established through questioning and evidence gathered by the police.
The three men have been identified as Phool Singh, 17, from Haryana’s Sonipat district; Hrithik Kumar alias Roshan, 22, who reportedly worked as a Rapido rider and lived in Andheri West, Mumbai; and Rehan, 18, also reported to be from Sonipat. Investigators are expected to question the accused about their movements before and after the shooting, their alleged roles in the attack, and whether anyone else was involved in arranging the motorcycle, weapons, or escape route.
Alongside the arrests, investigators are also examining purported social media posts/messages in which individuals claiming links to the Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the Firing. In a chilling message released online, a man identifying himself as Anil Pandit, brother of Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed responsibility for orchestrating attack on Tiger Shroff. Pandit revealed Tiger was warned but he paid no heed. Threatening all those who continue to work with Salman Khan, Pandit said the attacks will continue until Khan apologises to Lawrence and Bishnoi Community for hunting the black buck.
The firing has prompted renewed attention to security arrangements for Bollywood personalities in Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sought details of the incident and assured that action would be taken against those responsible. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also reportedly met Shroff and his family following the shooting and assured them of support. Security was tightened outside actor Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra after the incident, amid concerns surrounding the alleged online claims and possible threats to people associated with the film industry.
With three suspects now apprehended in Kota, the investigation enters a crucial phase. Police will need to establish the sequence of events before the firing, verify the alleged reconnaissance, examine the weapons, including other evidence, and determine whether the accused acted independently or were directed by others. The suspects’ interrogation may also help investigators establish the motive and authenticate the alleged gang connection.
