Mumbai: The investigation into the firing incident involving Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff has gathered momentum, with police detaining three suspected shooters in Rajasthan’s Kota. Meanwhile, an audio recording in which a man claiming to be associated with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi allegedly takes responsibility for the attack has surfaced, although its authenticity remains unverified.
The suspects, including a 17-year-old juvenile, were apprehended on Monday following coordination between Mumbai Police, Rajasthan’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Kota City Police. According to reports, the trio had travelled to Kota aboard the Pune-Jaipur Superfast Express and were intercepted in the Railway Colony area near Kota Junction.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Rehan, a resident of Haryana, and Hrithik Kumar, from Bihar, along with a juvenile. Police reportedly acted on information received from Mumbai investigators, with a senior Kota police officer stating that the suspects were detained within approximately 15 minutes of receiving the alert. Two additional suspects have also reportedly been detained, including one apprehended near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border.
Investigators are said to have used CCTV footage from Mumbai’s Andheri West railway station to identify the suspected shooters. The footage, which was reportedly shared with Kota Police, allegedly showed the suspects outside the station at around 7.06 pm. Mumbai Police have deployed multiple teams to trace others who may have been involved in the incident, and the case is being investigated by the Mumbai Crime Branch.
The investigation has also drawn attention following the circulation of an audio clip in which a man identifying himself as Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, claims responsibility for the shooting. The speaker reportedly named himself and another individual, Harman Sandhu, as being involved in the attack.
In the recording, the man allegedly warned people against working with Salman Khan and claimed that Tiger Shroff had previously been cautioned against associating professionally with the actor. He also issued threats against individuals who publicly criticise the Bishnoi gang, reportedly warning that they would face consequences.
The audio clip further contains an alleged demand for Salman Khan to apologise to Lawrence Bishnoi and the Bishnoi community over the blackbuck poaching controversy dating back to the late 1990s. The dispute has remained a source of tension, as the blackbuck is considered sacred by the Bishnoi community. However, police have not yet authenticated the recording or confirmed the claims made in it, and the alleged connection between the shooting and the gang remains under investigation.
Anil Pandit is reportedly based in North America and is suspected of handling activities linked to the Bishnoi gang in the United States and Canada. He is also reported to be wanted in connection with extortion and shooting cases in Delhi and other locations. Authorities have yet to establish whether the individual speaking in the audio recording is genuinely connected to the gang.
The shooting occurred in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening, when three unidentified assailants allegedly fired multiple rounds at Shroff’s car. According to police information, the actor’s driver and an autorickshaw driver sustained injuries during the incident. Shroff reportedly suffered burn injuries to his arm caused by gunpowder but escaped more serious harm.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed the actor’s injury, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the police were pursuing those responsible. Fadnavis also spoke to Shroff over the phone and assured him of support, stating that investigators had obtained important leads regarding the identities of the suspects.
Mumbai Police have registered an attempt-to-murder case and invoked relevant provisions of the Arms Act in connection with the firing. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the attack, the identities of the suspected shooters and the possible motive behind the incident.
Although the arrests in Kota mark a significant development, police verification of the alleged gang connection and the audio recording remains crucial to establishing the full circumstances of the case. Further details are expected as the investigation continues.
