Mumbai Police have registered a case against three unidentified individuals and launched a massive manhunt after high-profile Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s vehicle came under gunfire in the affluent Juhu neighbourhood. Authorities have mobilised 15 specialised teams to track down the assailants, while investigators meticulously examine a social media post claiming responsibility on behalf of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening as the action star was leaving a football pitch. According to police reports, three armed individuals targeted the actor’s vehicle whilst a crowd of fans was gathered nearby. As Shroff waved to his supporters from inside his car, gunmen approached and fired at least five rounds. The attack sparked immediate panic among bystanders as bullets shattered the vehicle’s windows.
Although Shroff escaped unhit, his driver, Ferdous, sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm, and a second individual at the scene, identified as Umesh Chavan, was also injured. Reports indicate that one of the shooters experienced a firearm malfunction during the assault, prompting the attackers to flee the scene on a waiting motorcycle driven by a third accomplice.
Demonstrating remarkable composure amid the chaos, Shroff took the wheel of his BMW himself to transport his bleeding driver to Nanavati Hospital. Visuals from the location captured bloodstains on the pavement where the vehicle had been parked moments earlier. Medical authorities have since confirmed that both injured men are out of danger and recovering well.
Law enforcement agencies made a key breakthrough shortly after the attack, recovering the getaway motorcycle abandoned near Andheri railway station. Forensic teams and crime branch officers are currently tracing the vehicle’s registration and chassis numbers to identify its owner, alongside reviewing extensive CCTV footage from surrounding escape routes. A formal case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act, incorporating charges of attempted murder.
Shortly following the shooting, a social media post purportedly originating from the Lawrence Bishnoi network claimed responsibility for the ambush. The message, attributed to individuals named Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu, asserted that Shroff had ignored prior warnings and threatened others who collaborate with fellow Bollywood actor Salman Khan. An accompanying audio clip demanded an apology from Khan over the long-standing 1998 blackbuck poaching controversy in Rajasthan, an issue that has fueled the Bishnoi gang’s enmity towards Khan for years.
Security around high-profile film industry personalities in Mumbai remains exceptionally tight following previous high-visibility incidents tied to the gang, including the April 2024 shooting outside Salman Khan’s Bandra residence and the fatal shooting of politician Baba Siddique in October 2024. However, senior police officials emphasized that the authenticity of the social media claims regarding Shroff’s attack remains unverified and under active investigation.
Political leaders and officials moved swiftly to offer support to the actor’s family. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis communicated with Shroff by telephone, directing police forces to apprehend the perpetrators without delay. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Shroff at his residence later on Sunday night, meeting the actor and his mother, Ayesha Shroff.
Whilst Shroff was spared direct bullet hits, Shinde informed reporters that the actor sustained minor superficial injuries from flying glass fragments and gunpowder residue. Reassuring the family of state protection, Shinde affirmed that the government would enforce strict law and order, declaring that no criminal syndicates would be permitted to spread terror or establish dominance in Mumbai.
