Tiger Shroff firing incident: Opposition targets Fadnavis over 'deteriorating' law and order

The Opposition on Sunday (October 18, 20) criticised the Maharashtra government over a firing attempt on Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai, alleging that law and order in the city and State had deteriorated.

Shroff escaped unhurt after gunmen opened fire near Pushpa Park in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday (October 18) evening. His driver and an autorickshaw driver were injured in the incident, police said.

Police have formed multiple teams to investigate the case and are trying to establish the chain of events leading to the incident, an official said.

The Opposition alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, has failed to maintain law and order.

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal accused the Mahayuti government of creating a "jungle raj" in the State following the firing incident involving Shroff and demanded Mr. Fadnavis's resignation on moral grounds over deteriorating law and order.

In a post on X, Mr. Sapkal said who would guarantee the safety of common people if an actor could be targeted in a firing incident on a Mumbai street.

He alleged that the law and order situation in Maharashtra had deteriorated, criminals no longer feared the law and the Chief Minister had lost control over the police administration.

Mr. Sapkal said Mr. Fadnavis had failed in his responsibilities as Chief Minister and Home Minister and should accept moral responsibility and resign immediately.

In a post on X, Congress leader Sachin Sawant said Mumbai appeared to be in the grip of chaos and accused Mr. Fadnavis of failing to maintain law and order.

Referring to the murder of former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique, the firing outside actor Salman Khan’s residence and threats to actors and film producers, Sawant questioned the State government’s efforts to rein in anti-social elements.

He said the situation had reached a point where people who had earlier compared Maharashtra with Bihar were now saying that even Bihar was better.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad demanded that Maharashtra have a separate Home Minister, blaming Mr. Fadnavis for the situation.

"Does Mumbai have law and order? Does the police still command the same authority and respect as before? Are criminals afraid of the police?

"If actors and political leaders are not safe, what can we say about the safety of ordinary citizens?” she asked in a video statement.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said the incident came days after the recent killing of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar in Thane.

The firing incident involving the actor’s car was alarming, although the actor escaped unhurt, Pawar said.

He also said such incidents, including the firing outside the Juhu residence of filmmaker Rohit Shetty, in Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, could undermine investor confidence.

Pawar said the home portfolio should be handed over to a “competent minister” if the situation had become difficult to handle.

NCP (SP) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto alleged that criminals were operating without fear of the law in Maharashtra.

"From criminals wielding koytas (sickles) to gunmen, criminals are roaming free in the state. Safety of citizens is at peril," he said in a statement.

Crasto urged CM Fadnavis to take proactive steps to instil fear of the law among criminals and ensure that citizens feel safe and secure.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare said the firing incident was very shocking.

"It is a warning not to industrialists or VIPs but to the Maharashtra Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister, that it cannot do anything to the Bishnoi gang. If the government has courage, when will it crush the Bishnoi gang? she asked.

She alleged concrete steps were not being taken despite the fact that Mumbai houses the biggest film industry and many film stars and VIPs reside in the city.