Mumbai Police have apprehended three accused in the firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff, with investigators tracing their escape route from Mumbai to Kota via Surat, DCP Rajtilak Roushan said during a press briefing on Monday.
The accused allegedly abandoned a motorcycle near Andheri West, travelled to Borivali by local train, took an app-based cab to Surat and boarded the Pune-Jaipur Express before police tracked them to Kota. The accused were planning to travel to Nepal via Delhi by bus from Jaipur.
The three men accused of firing planned their escape through multiple modes of transport, hoping to evade the police after the attack. But CCTV footage, technical analysis and field investigation helped the Mumbai Crime Branch reconstruct their movements and alert Rajasthan Police, leading to their arrest at Kota railway station.
DCP Rajtilak Roushan of the Mumbai Crime Branch said around 20 special teams were formed to investigate the firing incident, which took place in Mumbai's Juhu area around 7 pm on Sunday.
According to the police, three men arrived on a motorcycle, and two of them opened fire at the actor's vehicle before fleeing. Investigators said the accused subsequently abandoned the motorcycle near Andheri West railway station.
FROM ANDHERI TO KOTA: THE ACCUSED'S ESCAPE ROUTE
After allegedly abandoning the motorcycle near Andheri West, the accused travelled by local train to Borivali. From there, they took an app-based cab to Surat, Gujarat. The cab was booked by one of the accused, identified as Ritik, according to details provided about the investigation.
From Surat, the men boarded the Pune-Jaipur Express towards Rajasthan. The Crime Branch traced their movements and identified the compartment in which they were travelling before sharing the information with Kota Police.
Acting on the information, Kota Police apprehended all three men at Kota railway station. They were subsequently taken into Mumbai Police custody, with legal proceedings to bring them to Mumbai underway.
DCP Roushan credited coordination between police forces in different states for helping investigators trace the accused. Delhi Police, Gujarat Police and Rajasthan Police assisted Mumbai Police during the operation.
BIKE BOUGHT BY ACCUSED RITIK IN SEPTEMBER
Investigators have also traced the motorcycle allegedly used in the shooting to Ritik, who was described as a rapid rider. The bike was purchased by him on September 11, according to details shared about the investigation.
The motorcycle had changed hands four times since 2022, but the transfers were not reflected through registered sales, according to the information available. Investigators are examining the vehicle's ownership history as part of the probe.
The motorcycle's trail could help police establish how it was acquired and whether anyone else was involved in arranging the vehicle used in the attack.
WHO ARE THE ACCUSED?
Mumbai Police said the three accused are from Haryana and Bihar. None is a minor: one is 18 years old, while the other two are 22.
Two of the accused reportedly belong to the same place and knew each other.
The alleged shooters have been identified as Phool Singh and Rehan. According to the details shared about the case, Phool Singh was one of the shooters whose weapon malfunctioned during the firing. Police have clarified that he is not a minor.
Rehan was reportedly seen wearing a cap in footage linked to the incident. Investigators are examining the accused's individual roles and the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
Police are also checking the accused's educational backgrounds and investigating how they learnt about Tiger Shroff's location.
TWO WEAPONS USED, MULTIPLE ROUNDS FIRED
According to the Crime Branch, two weapons were used in the attack, and multiple rounds were fired at the actor's vehicle. An attempt-to-murder case and offences under the Arms Act have been invoked against the accused.
Roushan said further action would follow as the investigation progresses and that more arrests could be made if evidence establishes the involvement of additional suspects.
Police are also examining social media posts claiming responsibility for the firing. Roushan said those claims were being verified and that investigators had not yet established the larger conspiracy behind the attack.
NO PRIOR THREATS ON RECORD
Mumbai Police said they had no record of Tiger Shroff receiving threat calls linked to the incident before the shooting.
The investigation is examining how the accused learnt of the actor's location and whether anyone helped them plan or execute the attack. Police said security arrangements for public figures are made under established standard operating procedures, based on threat assessments and available information.
The accused are in police custody, and investigators are expected to question them further to establish the motive and determine whether the shooting was part of a wider criminal operation.
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