Three suspects have been detained in Kota, Rajasthan, in connection with the firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai. According to police sources, the suspects allegedly received an advance payment of ₹50,000 for their involvement in the attack.
The suspects were detained at Kota railway station on the morning of October 19 while travelling on a train from Mumbai to Delhi. The operation involved Mumbai Police, Rajasthan Police and railway police. Kota Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Gautam confirmed that two of the suspects are from Haryana and one is from Bihar. Their identities have been established, and they are being questioned.
Police sources identified two suspects as Rehan, 18, from Sonipat, Haryana, and Ritik, 22, originally from Begusarai, Bihar. The third suspect is a minor. Investigators are examining their individual roles to determine whether all three were directly involved in the shooting.
The incident occurred around 7 pm on October 18 near Pushpa Narsee Park in Mumbai’s Juhu area, approximately 350 metres from Juhu police station. Shroff’s car was reportedly emerging onto the main road after the actor attended a football session when two assailants approached the vehicle and opened fire repeatedly. A third person allegedly waited nearby on a motorcycle.
Shroff, who was seated in the front passenger seat, escaped serious injury. Photographs released following Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s visit showed dressings on the actor’s shoulder and chest, along with a bandage on his right arm. Shinde said Shroff had sustained injuries from gunpowder and glass fragments.
The actor’s driver, Firdous, was struck by a bullet in his left hand. Despite being injured, he reportedly got out of the vehicle and attempted to chase the assailants. Doctors at Nanavati Hospital found a foreign body lodged in his hand, and he may require surgery. Another person was also reported injured in the incident.
An eyewitness, Salma Shaikh, who runs a blog documenting celebrities, said she and other content creators initially mistook the gunshots for Diwali firecrackers.
“We heard four or five gunshots. We initially thought they were celebratory shots for Diwali. But when the car stopped and the driver came out injured, we realised what had happened,” she said.
During the investigation, Mumbai Police recovered the two-wheeler allegedly used in the attack. It was found abandoned near Andheri railway station. CCTV footage reportedly helped investigators trace the suspects’ movements from the scene towards DN Nagar in Andheri West and subsequently towards the railway station. Police suspect the individuals boarded a train to leave Mumbai.
Following an alert from Mumbai Police, their counterparts in Kota intercepted the three suspects and handed them over to Rajasthan Police for further investigation.
The detentions came after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said police had identified suspects in the case. Fadnavis also spoke to Shroff and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, directing the authorities to act swiftly and take strict action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. In social media posts, Anil Pandit, who identified himself as a representative of the group, and Harman Sandhu claimed involvement. Pandit allegedly said Shroff had been warned against working with actor Salman Khan and issued threats against others in the film industry who continue to work with Khan.
In an audio message shared by the Mumbai Crime Branch, Pandit also reportedly demanded an apology from Salman Khan to Lawrence Bishnoi and the Bishnoi community.
Police are verifying the authenticity of the social media posts and the audio message as the investigation continues. The alleged roles of the detained suspects and any possible links to the claimed gang involvement remain subject to investigation.