Indian police announced on Monday the arrest of three suspects in the shooting incident that targeted Bollywood star Tiger Shroff's car in the Juhu area of Mumbai, as investigations continue to uncover the circumstances of the attack.
The well-known artist's car was shot at on Sunday evening while leaving a football field in Juhu, Mumbai. Footage circulating showed at least two men firing several shots from close range at the vehicle, which was moving slowly through a crowd of people.
According to information about the incident, two people were injured, including the actor's driver, while Shroff, who is 36 years old, survived the assassination attempt.
For her part, Kota Police Chief Tejaswani Gautam revealed that security forces acted on Monday morning after receiving information that the suspects were on a train expected to arrive at Kota railway station in Rajasthan. She explained that a police team immediately moved and was able, within 15 minutes, to set up a ambush and search the entire train, resulting in the arrest of three suspects.
Media reports indicated that the attackers fired five or seven shots at Shroff's car while it was leaving the football field where he was training.
Reports also mentioned that the suspects disposed of the motorcycle they are believed to have used in the operation near Andheri West railway station after fleeing the scene.
The police have yet to announce the confirmed motive behind the attack or definitively identify the party responsible for it.
Following the shooting, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the actor on Sunday evening to check on him. Shinde stated that the attack left Shroff in a state of shock and confusion, emphasizing the authorities' rejection of any attempts to intimidate citizens or threaten their safety.
He also added, "We will not tolerate these attempts to intimidate people, and we will put an end to these criminal acts."
In a photo with Shinde, Shroff appeared shirtless, with bandages on the upper part of his body.
Meanwhile, questions regarding the motives behind targeting Shroff have increased following media reports about an audio recording attributed to a person claiming to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, taking responsibility for the attack.
According to the alleged recording, the speaker accused the actor of ignoring warnings about continuing his relationship with star Salman Khan, and issued threats to other figures in the Indian film industry.
However, the Indian police have not confirmed the authenticity of the recording, nor established a connection between the alleged gang and the shooting of Shroff's car, and these claims are still under investigation.
The roots of the animosity between Lawrence Bishnoi and Salman Khan date back to an illegal hunting case involving blackbucks in 1998 during the filming of the movie Hum Saath-Saath Hain in Rajasthan, according to Indian media reports.
Khan was accused of hunting two blackbucks, a species that holds special significance to the Bishnoi community, known for its commitment to wildlife protection and environmental conservation.
In 2018, a court in Jodhpur convicted Salman Khan in the case and sentenced him to five years in prison. He was later released on bail.
This possibility is one of the scenarios raised by the alleged audio message, however, there is no official confirmation yet that the actor received such threats prior to the shooting, nor have authorities established that his relationship with Khan was the motive behind the attack.
For its part, the Indian Film Workers Union condemned the shooting incident, warning of the repercussions of repeated attacks targeting prominent figures in the film industry.
Who is Tiger Shroff?
Tiger Shroff, whose real name is Jai Hemant Shroff, is the son of veteran Bollywood star Jackie Shroff. He began his film career in 2014 with the movie Heropanti, before starring in several action films that contributed to his rise in popularity.
Shroff is widely popular due to his skills in dance and martial arts and plays football, having made his debut with Mumbai FC in October 2024 in a regional tournament.