Mumbai Police recovered two firearms and 10 live cartridges from Surat on Friday as investigators pursued the alleged weapons network behind the October 18 shooting at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Juhu. Police are also examining whether unidentified handlers warned the fleeing suspects about developments in the investigation through internet-based calls and messages.
The crime branch officers traced the firearms to a hideout in Gujarat following leads about their movement, according to a police official quoted by PTI. The weapons have been sent for forensic and ballistic examination against cartridge cases recovered from the scene, but no confirmed match has been announced.
On October 18, at least two attackers allegedly fired five to six rounds at Shroff’s car near a football ground before escaping on a motorcycle. The actor escaped serious injury, while his driver and a bystander were wounded.
Ten arrested as police investigate wider conspiracy
Police have arrested 10 people, including three apprehended in Kota, Rajasthan, four accused of supplying or transporting firearms and three suspected of providing additional logistical support. The three arrested in Kota were remanded to police custody until October 31, the four alleged suppliers until October 26 and the remaining three until October 28.
The three accused, Sarpanch Khatak alias Ankit, 18, Sameer Khatri, 19, and Jatin Panchal, 27, all residents of Sonipat, Haryana, were produced before Mumbai’s Esplanade court on Friday and remanded to police custody until October 28. Police alleged that Ankit conducted reconnaissance near celebrities’ residences and maintained contact with wanted accused Anil Pandit, while Sameer and Jatin supplied weapons to the shooters.
Investigators also alleged that the accused facilitated logistics, money transfers and arrangements for the shooters to escape to Nepal. According to the police remand application, the attack was intended to establish financial and territorial dominance and create fear in society.
Police sought custodial interrogation to identify who directed the alleged attack, trace the source of the firearms and uncover the wider conspiracy. These allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
How alleged handlers guided fleeing suspects
Investigators suspect that an unidentified handler monitored television news and alerted the fleeing accused when their photographs appeared on screen. One of the shooters reportedly received a message saying, “Tumhare chehre aa gaye hain, nikal jao waha se” (Your faces are out, get out of there), according to police sources cited by The Indian Express.
Police are examining whether Anil Pandit, believed to be in the United States, or recently arrested accused Ankit Khatak and Sameer Khatri relayed information to Rehan Ansari. Investigators have not conclusively identified the person responsible.
The updates may explain why the suspects repeatedly changed transport arrangements before their arrest in Rajasthan. Investigators have reportedly recovered some communications between the accused and their suspected handlers.
Although the suspects allegedly relied on internet-based calls to avoid detection, police sources said they made one regular telephone call to the cab driver who transported them from Borivali to Surat. Investigators traced that call to Surat and subsequently identified the train the accused had boarded towards Jaipur, enabling Kota Police to apprehend them.
Separately, police allege that Kunal Sanjay and Sumit Sarolia helped procure weapons, while Radha Verma and Babita Rao transported a firearm to Mumbai. Babita’s family told NDTV that she travelled believing she was visiting temples and was unaware of the alleged weapons arrangement.
Mumbai Police have named Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, as a wanted accused following a social media claim of responsibility.
Investigators are examining the alleged gang connection, suspected handlers and weapons supply chain while awaiting forensic findings. The motive and individual roles of the accused remain subject to investigation.
