Three Arrested in Tiger Shroff Shooting Incident in Mumbai

Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the shooting incident involving Indian actor Tiger Shroff. The arrests took place on Monday afternoon aboard a train heading to Jaipur, near Kota, by the Rajasthan police. The trio had allegedly opened fire on Shroff outside a football ground in Juhu, Mumbai, while he was leaving the area.

Authorities recovered the Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle used in the attack, along with five bullet casings and two live cartridges at the scene. According to law enforcement officials, a Turkey-manufactured Zigana handgun and a local-made pistol were the firearms involved in the incident. Thankfully, Tiger Shroff, aged 36, managed to escape unharmed; however, one bullet struck his driver, Firdaus Ibrahim Baloch, injuring his hand.

In a statement to the media, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that those responsible for the attack would face justice, emphasising that they would not escape accountability. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed this sentiment, remarking that the administration would adopt a 'bullet-for-bullet' approach if necessary.

The shooting has drawn significant concern within the Bollywood community, with many expressing their shock at the brazen nature of the attack. Shroff, while shaken, reportedly sustained only minor bruises from the shattered glass of his vehicle’s windshield.

The suspects have been identified as Phool Singh and Rehan Ansari, both 18 years old from Sonipat, Haryana, and 22-year-old Hrithik Kumar, also known as Roshan Ramu Mahto, from Bihar. Mahto was previously employed in Mumbai with Rapido, a ride-hailing company. The company issued a statement expressing their relief at Shroff's safety and assured they were cooperating with the investigation. They clarified that Mahto had not been active as a captain on their platform since mid-October.

According to investigations, the assailants were reportedly promised ₹37,000 (approximately £400) for their involvement in the shooting. Their preliminary plans included fleeing abroad after the attack. The police believe there were prior reconnaissance activities arranged before the shooting occurred when Shroff attended a football match on Sunday evening.

The inquiry into the case continues, with a magistrate court in Kota granting a three-day transit remand to the Mumbai crime branch for further investigation. The investigation has revealed that the assailants had discreetly planned their escape route, using various transportation modes to elude capture after abandoning the motorcycle used in the crime.

Law enforcement officials confirmed tracking the suspects through surveillance footage on the train and monitoring their movements, which ultimately led to their arrest. They were apprehended around 10:15 am, shortly after an alert regarding their whereabouts was received from the Mumbai police.

Following the incident, the police have stated that the identified individuals have previous criminal records, further complicating the investigation. Authorities are still probing the motive behind the attack and any possible external influences involved in orchestrating it.