The three suspects arrested in connection with the recent gunfire targeting actor Tiger Shroff’s car have been successfully transferred to Mumbai, marking a major development in the high-profile investigation. The transit comes amid heightened security measures across the film industry, underscored by superstar Salman Khan’s recent high-security appearance at a private Mumbai airport.
The three accused—identified as 18-year-old Phool Singh, 18-year-old Rehan Rahisuddin, and 22-year-old Hrithik Mahto—were apprehended aboard a train at Kota in Rajasthan in a joint operation by local authorities and intelligence inputs. After securing transit remand, law enforcement agencies safely transported the trio to Mumbai, navigating strict security protocols following initial transport concerns.
According to police investigations, the suspects had fled to Surat before boarding a Jaipur-bound train, harboring plans to slip into Delhi by bus and eventually escape to Nepal. Investigators allege that two of the suspects opened fire while the third managed the getaway motorcycle during the attack near Juhu’s Pushpa Narsee Park. The case has been officially handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Extortion Cell.
The Attack and Emerging Gang Angles
The incident unfolded on Sunday evening as Tiger Shroff was leaving a football ground. Three men on a motorcycle fired five rounds at his vehicle, injuring the driver, Firdosh Ibrahim Baloch, and a bystander, Umesh Chauhan. While Shroff escaped bullet injuries, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed the actor sustained minor injuries from glass fragments and gunpowder.
In the wake of the shooting, an audio clip surfaced online featuring Anil Pandit—an alleged associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The recording claimed responsibility alongside Harman Sandhu, issuing direct threats to members of the Hindi film industry working with Salman Khan. Investigators note that Rehan had prior contact with Pandit, though authorities emphasize that the exact motive and the purported gang connection are still under thorough verification.
Salman Khan’s High-Security Movement
Reflecting the escalating anxiety within Bollywood, Salman Khan was recently spotted at Mumbai’s private airport flanked by heavy armed security and his longtime bodyguard Shera. The heavy deployment followed close on the heels of the Juhu shooting.
While social media buzzed with reactions to Khan’s formidable security detail, police have proactively bolstered protection across the board. Additional patrol units and security vehicles have been stationed outside Khan’s Galaxy Apartments residence in Bandra, filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s home, and near Aamir Khan’s residence, with Tiger Shroff also receiving dedicated police cover.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadvanis has promised a comprehensive, unsparing investigation into the attack as the Crime Branch begins interrogating the newly arrived suspects.
