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Mumbai Police have arrested a 22-year-old Haryana resident in connection with the October 18 firing attack targeting Tiger Shroff’s car. (Img: X)
Indore: The investigation into the October 18 firing attack targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai has widened, with the Mumbai Crime Branch arresting a 22-year-old engineering graduate from Haryana’s Sonipat district in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore. The latest arrest takes the total number of people held in the case to 11, as investigators intensify efforts to uncover the alleged conspiracy, trace the weapons supply chain and establish the suspected roles of individuals linked to the shooters.
The accused, identified as Pranjal Thakran, was apprehended in a joint operation involving the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Indore Crime Branch in the Pardesipura area. He is being taken to Mumbai on transit remand for detailed questioning over his alleged involvement in the attack.
Thakran, 22, is a resident of Kharkhoda in Haryana’s Sonipat district. Preliminary information suggests that he had arrived in Indore around five days before his arrest to visit his brother, who has reportedly been undergoing medical treatment. His brother was earlier receiving treatment in Sonipat before being referred for further medical intervention in Indore, with robotic surgery also being considered.
Investigators traced Thakran’s location after receiving intelligence inputs about his presence in the city. A team from the Mumbai Crime Branch subsequently travelled to Indore and, with assistance from local police, detained him in Pardesipura.
Police are now examining his contacts, movements and alleged links with other suspects to determine whether he played a role in facilitating the October 18 shooting. His suspected involvement in arranging logistical resources and potentially assisting with weapons procurement is also under investigation.
The precise nature of his alleged role has not yet been conclusively established, and investigators are expected to question him further as they reconstruct the events leading up to the attack.
Investigators suspect that the shooting may have involved a wider support network extending beyond the individuals who allegedly fired at the actor’s car. The probe is examining whether logistical assistance, communication between suspects, reconnaissance and the movement of firearms helped facilitate the attack.
Preliminary findings have brought Thakran’s alleged associations with other individuals under scrutiny, including a reported connection with Anil Pandit. Investigators are seeking to establish whether these contacts had any direct link to the shooting conspiracy.
Pandit was reportedly associated with social media claims asserting links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and responsibility for the attack. However, the authenticity and significance of those claims, along with any alleged connection between Pandit, Thakran and the shooting, remain matters for police verification.
The investigation is also focused on identifying the division of responsibilities among the suspects, including who may have conducted surveillance, arranged weapons, coordinated movements or provided assistance before and after the firing.
The latest arrest has renewed attention on the alleged Sonipat connection in the case. According to preliminary reports, seven of the 11 people arrested so far are linked to Haryana’s Sonipat district.
Three previously arrested suspects from the district are Sameer, Jatin Panchal and Ankit Khatak. Investigators have been examining their alleged roles in the events surrounding the attack. Ankit is suspected of having travelled to Mumbai to conduct reconnaissance before the shooting, while Sameer was reportedly in contact with Anil Pandit. Jatin Panchal is alleged to have arranged a weapon connected to the attack.
These suspected roles are part of the ongoing investigation and have yet to be conclusively established through the judicial process.
Police are also examining evidence related to an alleged firing practice session in Mumbai’s Aarey Colony on October 17, a day before the attack. CCTV footage from locations connected to the suspects, along with other investigative material, is being analysed to reconstruct their movements and determine whether the alleged preparations were linked to the Juhu incident.
The investigation is aimed at establishing whether the accused acted independently or as part of a coordinated network, while identifying any additional individuals who may have assisted in planning or executing the attack.
The Indore arrest comes amid a parallel investigation into the alleged weapons supply chain. During a raid at a suspected hideout in Gujarat’s Surat, the Mumbai Crime Branch reportedly recovered two firearms and 10 live cartridges.
The seized weapons and ammunition are being examined to determine their origin and possible connection with the October 18 shooting. Forensic and ballistic analysis is expected to help investigators establish whether the recovered firearms match the shell casings collected from the Juhu crime scene.
Police are also questioning an accused identified as Jatin over the alleged transportation and distribution of weapons across state borders. Investigators are attempting to map the movement of firearms, identify possible suppliers and establish how the weapons may have reached the people suspected of carrying out the attack. The recovery of the firearms is an important investigative lead, but their direct connection with the shooting will depend on forensic findings and other corroborating evidence.
The incident took place in Mumbai’s Juhu area on the evening of October 18, 2026, when at least two men allegedly opened fire at Tiger Shroff’s car before fleeing on a motorcycle.
The actor escaped relatively unharmed, while his driver and a passerby sustained injuries. The incident triggered a high-profile criminal investigation, with the Mumbai Crime Branch and other law enforcement teams working to identify the shooters, trace their movements and establish the motive behind the attack.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has reportedly claimed responsibility for the shooting through social media posts. Police are examining the authenticity of those claims and investigating whether the alleged perpetrators had any verified links to the gang or its wider network.
Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the attack involved advance planning, including surveillance of the intended target and arrangements for weapons and escape. Any claims about the involvement of overseas handlers, encrypted communications or reconnaissance around other celebrities’ residences will require independent corroboration before they can be treated as established facts.
With 11 arrests reported so far, investigators are continuing to examine the alleged conspiracy, the connections between the suspects and the possible movement of weapons across state lines. Teams are pursuing leads in multiple locations, while digital evidence, CCTV footage, communications and forensic material are being assessed to establish a reliable sequence of events.
Thakran’s interrogation is expected to help investigators verify his alleged links with other suspects and determine whether he provided any assistance connected to the shooting. Police are also working to establish whether additional individuals were involved in supplying firearms, arranging logistics or supporting the alleged operation.
The investigation remains ongoing. The alleged roles of the arrested individuals, the provenance of the recovered firearms and the reported gang links must be established through evidence and due legal process.
