Tiger Shroff’s Car Targeted in Juhu Firing (Img: X)
Mumbai: Three unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants fired seven rounds at a car carrying Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff and his driver in Mumbai’s Juhu area around 7 pm on Sunday. The driver was injured in the firing, while a fan standing nearby to catch a glimpse of the actor also sustained a bullet injury.
According to Juhu police, Shroff had attended a birthday celebration at Pushpa Park, also known as Jamnabai Nursery. He was preparing to leave when the attackers opened fire. The assailants, dressed in white shirts, fled towards SV Road and Vile Parle railway station.
The firing took place around 350 metres from Juhu police station and Pushpa Park. The actor’s driver, Firdosh, suffered a bullet injury to his left hand and was taken to Nanavati Hospital for treatment.
Umesh Charan, 35, who was standing nearby, was also hit by a bullet and admitted to Cooper Hospital. Police initially reported that Shroff had suffered minor abrasions from glass fragments after the car’s windows shattered. However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone 2) Mohit Garg clarified that the actor had not sustained any injuries.
Police were in the process of registering an FIR and were seeking information from Shroff about any recent threat calls or warnings he may have received.
Mumbai Police have formed 15 teams to track down the assailants. Juhu police personnel and Crime Branch officers are examining CCTV footage to identify the suspects and reconstruct their escape route.
Investigators are also verifying a social media post purportedly shared by Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu, in which the two allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack. The post suggested that Shroff was targeted because of his association or work with Salman Khan.
The post also threatened other members of Mumbai’s film industry who had worked with Khan. Although rumours have linked Pandit to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, police have not authenticated the claim.
"Sooner or later, number sabka aayega," Pandit allegedly said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to the Mumbai Police Commissioner to enquire about the firing incident. He directed the commissioner to ensure a swift investigation and take strict action against those responsible, sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
Pandit had earlier claimed responsibility for a shooting outside singer Guru Randhawa’s gym in Delhi, allegedly citing a connection to Salman Khan.
In July this year, actor Aamir Khan, who married Gauri Spratt, was reportedly threatened in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The threat allegedly accused him of promoting 'love jihad'.
A social media post purportedly shared on Facebook by gangsters Tyson Bishnoi and Aarzoo Bishnoi alleged that Khan and others were promoting 'love jihad', which they claimed went against their culture.
On February 1, filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence was targeted in a shooting. The Mumbai Crime Branch later said members linked to the Shubham Lonkar gang had orchestrated the attack. Seven additional arrests were made with the assistance of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force.
Investigators said a Pune-based unit had arranged the logistics, while a network operating in North India carried out the attack.
The latest incident comes amid a series of attacks and threats involving personalities associated with Salman Khan. Baba Ziauddin Siddique, 66, a former Maharashtra minister, three-time MLA from Bandra (West) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, was shot dead outside the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in Bandra East on the night of October 12, 2024.
Three masked assailants fired multiple rounds at Siddique’s chest and abdomen as he was entering his car. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Mumbai Crime Branch investigations and charge sheets have primarily linked the assassination to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother, Anmol Bishnoi, who was named as a prime accused. Investigators suspect the killing may have been linked to Siddique’s close association with Salman Khan, similar to other targeted actions attributed to the syndicate.
