Kota, Rajasthan: Police on Monday nabbed three people, including a juvenile, in Kota in connection with the firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai’s Juhu area. The accused were apprehended while travelling on a train, police said.
The three accused include a juvenile from Haryana, a 22-year-old man from Bihar who works as a Rapido rider in Mumbai, and an 18-year-old man from Haryana.
Two of the accused were identified as Ritik, from Bihar, and Rehan from Haryana. The identity of the third person, said to be a minor, is being ascertained.
"Three suspects have been rounded up, and one of them is a minor. Preliminary questioning revealed that two of them have one case each against them, one related to theft and the other under the Arms Act. Further detailed interrogation will be conducted once they are handed over to the Mumbai Police," said Kota SP Tejaswani Gautam.
She added that Rehan, one of the three accused, had previously been in contact with Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang suspected of operating from the US.
The three accused were detained by Kota City Police at a railway station while travelling on the Pune-Jaipur Express. According to Gautam, preliminary questioning revealed that they planned to travel to Delhi and then escape to Nepal.Speaking about the investigation, Gautam said the police received information about the accused at around 9:45 am and covered the exit points, platforms and other locations to apprehend them.
Preliminary questioning revealed that they intended to travel to Delhi by this train and then escape to Nepal from there. Rehan had previously been in contact with Anil Pandit…,” she said while speaking to the media.
"We covered the exit points, platforms and various other locations to apprehend the accused. It was the Pune-Jaipur Express. We received the information around 9:45 AM. The Mumbai Police have arrived, and we will hand the accused over to them. Based on preliminary questioning, one of the accused is a Rapido rider. Further detailed interrogation will provide more clarity,” she added.
"The other two, one of whom is a minor and the other, Rehan, work as labourers in Sonipat," she further said.
During the press conference, Kota SP mentioned that the weapons used in the firing had not been recovered yet. The accused would be questioned about the weapons, and further legal action would follow based on the investigation.
According to Mumbai Police, the firing took place around 7 pm on Sunday when Tiger Shroff was leaving a football club in Juhu. The accused allegedly opened fire at the actor’s car. While Shroff escaped direct gunshot injuries, his driver was injured in the incident.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Shroff’s residence on Sunday night following the incident. Shinde said the actor had sustained injuries to his left hand from gunpowder and glass fragments. He added that Shroff and his mother, Ayesha Shroff, were shaken by the incident and assured them of the state government’s support.
“Strict action will be taken, and threats against public figures will not be tolerated,” Shinde said.
Sources in the Mumbai Police Crime Branch said the alleged shooters had conducted reconnaissance of the actor’s movements before the firing. They reportedly knew that Shroff regularly visited the Juhu football ground on Sundays and had monitored his movements ahead of the incident.
After the firing, the accused allegedly took an escape route along SV Road through Vile Parle and Andheri. They reportedly abandoned their motorcycle near Andheri West railway station before boarding a train towards Borivali. Preliminary information suggests they later crossed the Maharashtra border.
Meanwhile, security outside actor Salman Khan’s residence at Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai’s Bandra area has been tightened following the incident. Police personnel wearing bulletproof jackets and police vehicles were seen outside the actor’s residence.
A case has been registered under Sections 109(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act. Further investigation is underway.
She added that Rehan, one of the three accused, had previously been in contact with Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang suspected of operating from the US.
The three accused were detained by Kota City Police at a railway station while travelling on the Pune-Jaipur Express. According to Gautam, preliminary questioning revealed that they planned to travel to Delhi and then escape to Nepal.
Speaking about the investigation, Gautam said the police received information about the accused at around 9:45 am and covered the exit points, platforms and other locations to apprehend them.
Preliminary questioning revealed that they intended to travel to Delhi by this train and then escape to Nepal from there. Rehan had previously been in contact with Anil Pandit…,” she said while speaking to the media.
"We covered the exit points, platforms and various other locations to apprehend the accused. It was the Pune-Jaipur Express. We received the information around 9:45 AM. The Mumbai Police have arrived, and we will hand the accused over to them. Based on preliminary questioning, one of the accused is a Rapido rider. Further detailed interrogation will provide more clarity,” she added.
"The other two, one of whom is a minor and the other, Rehan, work as labourers in Sonipat," she further said.
During the press conference, Kota SP mentioned that the weapons used in the firing had not been recovered yet. The accused would be questioned about the weapons, and further legal action would follow based on the investigation.
According to Mumbai Police, the firing took place around 7 pm on Sunday when Tiger Shroff was leaving a football club in Juhu. The accused allegedly opened fire at the actor’s car. While Shroff escaped direct gunshot injuries, his driver was injured in the incident.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Shroff’s residence on Sunday night following the incident. Shinde said the actor had sustained injuries to his left hand from gunpowder and glass fragments. He added that Shroff and his mother, Ayesha Shroff, were shaken by the incident and assured them of the state government’s support.
“Strict action will be taken, and threats against public figures will not be tolerated,” Shinde said.
Sources in the Mumbai Police Crime Branch said the alleged shooters had conducted reconnaissance of the actor’s movements before the firing. They reportedly knew that Shroff regularly visited the Juhu football ground on Sundays and had monitored his movements ahead of the incident.
After the firing, the accused allegedly took an escape route along SV Road through Vile Parle and Andheri. They reportedly abandoned their motorcycle near Andheri West railway station before boarding a train towards Borivali. Preliminary information suggests they later crossed the Maharashtra border.
Meanwhile, security outside actor Salman Khan’s residence at Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai’s Bandra area has been tightened following the incident. Police personnel wearing bulletproof jackets and police vehicles were seen outside the actor’s residence.
A case has been registered under Sections 109(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act. Further investigation is underway.