Police have arrested three suspects in Rajasthan’s Kota over the shooting at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai, a major breakthrough in the investigation into the attack. The suspects are Hrithik Kumar alias Roshan, 22, Rehan, 18, and a 17-year-old juvenile, according to reports published on Monday.
According to Hindustan Times and news agency IANS, Kumar hails from Piprai village in Bihar’s Begusarai district and reportedly lives near Urdu School in Mumbai’s Andheri West, where he works as a Rapido rider. Rehan is from Haryana’s Sonipat district. The third suspect is also reportedly from Haryana. Police detained the trio in a joint operation involving the Rajasthan Anti-Gangster Task Force and Kota City Police. Investigators are questioning them over the shooting and probing their alleged links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
The arrests came a day after three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at Shroff’s vehicle in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening, 18 October. The actor escaped unhurt, but his driver, Firdous, and an autorickshaw driver sustained gunshot injuries. Both were reported to be in stable condition.
Mumbai Police formed 15 teams to investigate the attack and apprehend those responsible. Officers also recovered the motorcycle allegedly used in the shooting. Police registered a first information report (FIR) against three unidentified men under Section 109 and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 25 of the Arms Act.
Shortly after the shooting, a social media post attributed to alleged Lawrence Bishnoi gang operatives Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pandit is reportedly based in the United States, while Sandhu’s current location remains unclear. Both men have come under scrutiny as investigators probe the alleged gang connection. Police have not confirmed the authenticity of the claim or established their roles in the shooting.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Shroff at his residence in Mumbai’s Bandra area late on Sunday night. Images from the meeting showed the actor with bandages on his hand. Shinde said Shroff had sustained injuries to his left hand from gunpowder and glass shards.
Shinde condemned the shooting and assured the actor and his family of the state government’s support. He warned that the government would not tolerate threats or gang wars in Mumbai.
“Bullets would be answered with bullets,” Shinde said, warning those attempting to intimidate people. He recalled that gang wars had been common in Mumbai during the 1990s but said police had brought them under control in 1995.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also vowed strict action against those responsible. He said Mumbai Police had gathered important clues and identified specific individuals linked to the case. Authorities would pursue both the attackers and the alleged masterminds operating from outside Maharashtra or abroad, he said.
Fadnavis added that the state government would coordinate with other states and seek assistance from the central government to track suspects operating overseas. He described the attackers as cowards who sought to strike from the shadows and said their efforts would be thwarted.
The attack triggered widespread concern across the film industry, with actors, trade bodies and political leaders demanding swift action and stronger security.
Actor Ravie Dubey described the shooting as tragic and called for the suspects to be caught quickly, saying public safety was paramount. Actor Amol Parashar also demanded that those responsible be arrested and punished, warning that a failure to do so could encourage further crimes.
Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha expressed shock over the attack in a post on X. He said Shroff had been fortunate to escape serious injury but expressed concern for the actor’s injured driver. Sinha also acknowledged the concern expressed by Fadnavis and Shinde over the incident.
Actor Ranvir Shorey condemned the shooting as shocking and disgusting, urging Mumbai Police to show no mercy to those responsible.
Singer Mika Singh called on the government and authorities to take the matter seriously. In an Instagram post, he said Mumbai had long been regarded as one of India’s safest cities, where people, particularly women, felt confident travelling and working even late at night. The shooting had raised serious questions about public safety, he said, calling for stronger action and accountability.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) strongly condemned the attack and demanded security for Shroff and his family. The organisation described the shooting as deeply disturbing, particularly because it followed an earlier firing incident involving filmmaker Rohit Shetty.
FWICE called for immediate and effective action to protect people associated with the Indian film industry. It said the recurrence of such attacks raised grave concerns about the safety of actors and other industry professionals.
The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) also wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking urgent central intervention. Its president, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, described the shooting as a terrifying incident that had left Shroff and his family fearful.
The association called for full security for the actor and his family, a probe by the National Investigation Agency and other central agencies in coordination with Maharashtra Police, and the arrest of both the shooters and those who allegedly ordered the attack. It also demanded a fast-track trial, a dedicated task force to protect the film industry, accountability for security failures and a time-bound report on the action taken.
AICWA warned that continued fear of gangsters could force leading film personalities to leave Mumbai. It said the city must not return to the underworld violence associated with the 1990s and that Bollywood should not have to operate under the shadow of fear.
The shooting also drew political criticism. Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal questioned the Centre’s handling of crime and security. In a post on X, he alleged that the government had provided facilities to Lawrence Bishnoi to carry out criminal activities in India and abroad. He also warned that voters in Punjab should consider the implications of the situation for law and order.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule said crime had increased in Maharashtra and demanded answers from the state’s home minister.
NCP MLC Zeeshan Siddique also raised concerns about security lapses. He claimed that he had received four death threats in the previous two months but had not received additional security. He questioned how ordinary citizens could feel safe if actors, politicians and businesspeople faced threats.
Actor Karan Veer Mehra, whose car was behind Shroff’s vehicle, described the aftermath of the shooting. He told NDTV that he saw blood spots after reaching the gate and learnt that the actor’s driver had been shot. He expressed relief that Shroff was safe and concern for the injured driver. Mehra also recalled that children attending a birthday party nearby had run in different directions amid the chaos.
Police recorded a statement from Shroff’s driver, Firdous, who sustained a gunshot wound to his left hand. Authorities also deployed security personnel outside the actor’s residence and strengthened security at the Juhu shooting site.
Actress Disha Patani visited Shroff at his residence following the incident, according to PTI.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar also condemned the firing in a post on X, saying the perpetrators would be apprehended quickly and face strict action. She said the safety of every citizen in Mumbai remained the government’s highest priority.
The arrests mark a significant development in the investigation. Police are continuing to question the suspects, verify the alleged gang’s claim of responsibility and establish the roles of those involved in the shooting, as well as identify anyone who may have ordered the attack.
