Police in India have arrested three people suspected of involvement in a shooting incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai. The suspects were detained aboard the Pune–Jaipur Express at Kota railway station in Rajasthan, following information provided by Mumbai Police. Investigators suspect that all three have links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, although their alleged connections remain subject to investigation.
According to Indian news agency NDTV, the arrested individuals have been identified as Phool Singh, 17, from Sonipat in Haryana; Hrithik Kumar, also known as Roshan, 22, from Begusarai in Bihar; and Rehan, 18, from Sonipat.
A joint team comprising Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Kota City Police carried out the arrests based on intelligence shared by Mumbai Police. Preliminary findings suggest that two of the suspects may have acted as hired gunmen, while the third is suspected of helping them escape after the shooting. Investigators are working to establish the precise role of each individual and determine whether others were involved in planning or facilitating the attack.
Investigators suspect the attack was carefully planned
According to a report by Indian news agency ANI, investigators believe the attackers may have monitored Shroff’s movements before carrying out the shooting. Police suspect that they observed the actor’s weekly routine and selected a suitable opportunity to target him.
Sources familiar with the investigation told the news agency that Shroff reportedly visited a football ground in Mumbai’s Juhu area every Sunday. Investigators believe the assailants may have planned to attack him as he returned by car from the venue.
These details have led police to examine whether the incident involved advance surveillance rather than a spontaneous act of violence. Investigators are also attempting to establish how the suspects obtained information about the actor’s movements and whether they received instructions or assistance from other people.
The suspected escape route is another key part of the investigation. Police believe the assailants fled through Vile Parle and Andheri before travelling along SV Road. They allegedly abandoned their motorcycle near Andheri West railway station and boarded a train towards Borivali.
Preliminary intelligence also suggests that the suspects may have travelled beyond Maharashtra into neighbouring Gujarat in an effort to evade law enforcement. Investigators are examining their movements across state boundaries to reconstruct the sequence of events following the shooting.
Images released as search for suspects intensified
Before the arrests, photographs believed to show some of the suspected attackers emerged publicly as Mumbai Police intensified its search. One image reportedly showed two men standing side by side, with one wearing a black cap.
The photographs formed part of the information circulating during the investigation. Police have been working to identify the individuals involved and establish their movements before and after the incident. The arrests in Rajasthan represent a significant development in those efforts, although further questioning and verification will be required to establish the full circumstances of the attack.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister promises firm action
The shooting has renewed concerns about gang-related violence in Mumbai, prompting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to issue a strong warning against criminal groups operating in the city.
Late on Sunday night, Shinde visited Shroff’s residence in Mumbai’s Bandra area to enquire about the actor’s condition. He also spoke to members of the actor’s family, who were concerned following the incident, and assured them that adequate security would be provided.
Shinde said gang-related violence would not be tolerated and called for decisive action against organised criminal networks. Referring to the measures taken against gangs during Mumbai’s violent underworld conflicts in the 1990s, he argued that similar efforts were needed to dismantle criminal organisations once again.
He said the roots of such groups had been removed in the past and that the authorities needed to take comparable action now. Addressing the attack on Shroff’s car, he warned that incidents of this nature would be met with a firm response.
His remarks underline the political and public pressure on the authorities to prevent criminal gangs from using threats and violence to intimidate individuals or establish influence. However, the investigation into the actor’s case remains focused on identifying those directly responsible and establishing the evidence behind the suspected gang connection.
Actor escapes injury as two people are hurt
The shooting took place on Sunday evening in Mumbai’s Juhu area, when unidentified assailants opened fire at Shroff’s car. The 36-year-old actor escaped unharmed, but his driver and another person sustained injuries.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the attack, including the weapon used, the suspects’ movements and the manner in which they allegedly escaped. Establishing a reliable account of the incident will be central to determining whether the shooting was linked to an organised criminal operation and whether the actor was deliberately singled out.
The incident has also drawn attention to the security challenges faced by prominent public figures, whose regular movements and public appearances can make them potential targets. Investigators are examining whether the alleged surveillance of Shroff’s weekly routine played a decisive role in the attack.
Alleged gang claim remains unverified
A post circulating on social media has reportedly claimed responsibility for the shooting on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Mumbai Police, however, have not yet verified the authenticity of the post.
The claim must therefore be treated with caution. A statement published on social media does not, by itself, establish responsibility for a criminal offence. Investigators will need to assess the post alongside other evidence, including witness accounts, forensic findings, communications and information obtained from the arrested suspects.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has been associated in media reporting with several high-profile criminal cases and threats in India. Nevertheless, the precise nature of any connection between the group and the shooting targeting Shroff will have to be established through the investigation.
With three suspects now in custody, police are expected to focus on determining the motive, identifying any alleged organisers and establishing whether additional individuals helped plan or execute the attack. The authorities also face the task of ensuring the safety of Shroff and his family while addressing wider concerns about gang-related violence in Mumbai.
The arrests mark an important step in the investigation, but several questions remain unanswered. Until the evidence is fully examined, the suspects’ alleged roles and the reported claim of responsibility remain matters for the police to establish.
