One of the arrested shooters has told police the actor was chosen because of his closeness to Salman Khan, while investigators say the accused tracked the probe through social media.
Mumbai: One of the men accused of attacking actor Tiger Shroff has told investigators that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang picked him as a target because he once praised Salman Khan. The accused also revealed what allegedly triggered the plan, while police say the suspects may have been following updates on the investigation online as they tried to escape.
What Happened
Tiger Shroff was leaving a playground in Juhu after playing football on Sunday, October 18, when two shooters fired seven rounds at his BMW. They then fled on a bike with another accomplice.
The actor’s driver and one bystander were injured in the attack. Later, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility. The accused were arrested the next day from the Pune-Jaipur Superfast Express at Kota Railway Station in Rajasthan.
Why Tiger Shroff Was Allegedly Chosen
The close bond between Tiger Shroff and Salman Khan has long been seen as the main reason behind the attack. Now, one of the accused has pointed to a specific incident.
According to the accused, Tiger praised the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor at a movie promotion event in 2022. He allegedly said that Salman was the only “tiger” in the film industry. Investigators believe this remark may have been a big reason the gangsters turned against him.
Police note that the Bishnoi gang has earlier threatened and acted against people seen as close to Salman Khan.
The Old Feud Behind It All
The gang’s anger towards Salman Khan goes back to 1999. At that time, the actor was allegedly accused of killing a blackbuck during the shooting of the film Hum Saath-Saath Hain. The animal is considered sacred in the Bishnoi community. Since then, Lawrence Bishnoi has demanded that the actor apologise or face consequences.
Accused Followed the Investigation on Social Media
Early findings suggest the accused may have been following police updates on social media. Police believe they were also getting information on the case from outside.
CCTV footage shows that one of the accused, Rehan, was constantly on his phone. Police suspect that details of the investigation were passed to the accused through internet calls. The shooters were allegedly told by message that the bike they used to escape had been found in Andheri and that police knew they were travelling by train.
The accused used bikes, trains and cabs to dodge the police. Even so, Kota Police arrested them after acting on information from Mumbai Police. They were caught on a train travelling from Surat to Jaipur.
Internet calling made it harder for police to track them. Mumbai Police are now trying to find out who was supplying the accused with updates on the investigation.
How Police Cracked the Escape Route
Sources say the accused switched off their mobile phones and internet connections after the firing so that police could not trace them. Throughout the plot, the shooters and their handlers used internet-based calls, known as VoIP calls, to talk to each other.
However, the shooters made just one regular phone call, and it became a major clue. The investigation found that they had booked a private cab to travel from Borivali in Mumbai to Surat.
Right after the firing, they took a local train from Andheri to Borivali, then went on to Surat by cab. The call to the cab driver came under the police scanner and helped investigators trace their path.
Using this lead, a team from Mumbai Police’s Anti-Extortion Cell travelled from Borivali to Surat. The cab driver told them he had dropped the accused at Surat railway station. Police then checked CCTV footage from the station and the reservation charts, which showed the accused had boarded a train towards Jaipur.
The team followed the Kota-Jaipur route and detained the three main shooters in Kota, Rajasthan. Police believe tracing the route to Surat would have been far harder without that single regular call.
Women Arrested for Supplying Weapons
Two women have also been arrested for allegedly supplying the weapons used in the attack. The Mumbai Crime Branch has recovered two firearms and ten live cartridges from Surat in Gujarat.
Tiger Shroff Still Shaken
Tiger Shroff, the son of actor Jackie Shroff, is reportedly deeply disturbed after his car was fired upon. According to Mumbai Police sources, he told officers he was shocked and has no enmity with anyone.
The actor reportedly said he does not know who the attackers were, why they opened fire or who planned the attack. A Crime Branch official said his statement has not been recorded yet because he is still disturbed by the incident. Police are expected to record it soon.
