How Lawrence gang’s ignored call not to work with Salman Khan led to assassination bid on Tiger Shroff: Birthday outing, 350m from Juhu police station, 3 shooters

MUMBAI: Actor Tiger Shroff escaped a firing attack on his car near Juhu police station on Sunday evening after unidentified assailants opened fire as he was leaving a birthday party at Pushpa Narsee Park, also known as Jamnabai Nursery.

His driver, Firdaus, sustained a bullet injury to his left hand, while a passerby was also injured in the firing. Despite being hurt, the driver emerged from the vehicle and tried to chase the assailants as they fled.

The firing took place around 7pm, barely 350 metres from Juhu police station. According to police, the vehicle was slowly exiting the venue when two assailants, standing amid a crowd of onlookers, stepped in front of the car and opened fire repeatedly.

Seven rounds were reportedly fired. At least one bullet pierced the shattered glass of the vehicle's window.

The three assailants, reportedly dressed in white shirts, fled towards SV Road and Vile Parle railway station on a motorcycle allegedly kept ready by an accomplice.

A video of the incident circulating on social media appears to show one of the shooters struggling to fire when he approaches the car window at close range.

Shroff was initially taken to Nanavati Hospital along with his driver. A senior doctor said the actor had suffered minor abrasions from glass fragments, while Firdaus had a foreign body lodged in his left hand following the bullet injury and was likely to require surgery. Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohit Garg later said Shroff had not sustained any gunshot injuries.

A third person, identified by police as 35-year-old Umesh Charan, was also injured. According to Dr Chhaya Shinde, dean of BMC-run Cooper Hospital in Juhu, he sustained a bullet wound on the right side of his chest. He was stable but required immediate surgery, a doctor said. A BMC press release stated that he was brought to the hospital's casualty department at 7.10pm with a gunshot wound sustained around 6.30pm in Vile Parle West while covering a football match featuring Shroff.

Lawrence gang claims responsibility, threatens Salman Khan's associates

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media post and voice note, though police said they were verifying the authenticity of the material. The post, attributed to Bishnoi aide Anil Pandit, named Pandit and Harman Sandhu as those taking responsibility for the attack.

The message claimed Shroff had ignored warnings not to work with actor Salman Khan and threatened to target others in the film industry who continued to work with Khan. It also contained threats directed at rival gang members.

Sources said the shooters had allegedly been tracking Shroff for several days. Police were seeking details from the actor about any recent threat calls or warnings as part of the investigation.

Pandit had earlier claimed responsibility for a shooting outside singer Guru Randhawa's gym in Delhi, allegedly linked to Salman Khan. The latest incident has renewed concerns over threats to members of the film industry, following the 2024 firing outside Khan's Galaxy Apartments in Bandra and the fatal shooting of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique in October that year.

Juhu police and the Mumbai Crime Branch were examining CCTV footage to identify the assailants and establish their escape route. Fifteen teams were formed to track them down, while a forensic team inspected the scene and the vehicle to collect ballistic evidence and determine the exact number of rounds fired.

Fadnavis assures actor of support; opposition questions law and order

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, sought details from Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and directed the police to expedite the investigation and take strict action against those responsible. He also spoke to Shroff over the phone and assured him that the accused would be traced soon.

Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde visited Shroff's residence late on Sunday to enquire about his well-being. Photographs from the meeting showed the actor with dressings on his shoulder and chest and a bandage on his right arm. Shinde said Shroff had sustained injuries to his hand from gunpowder and glass fragments and assured the family of the government's support.

Shinde condemned the firing and said the security of celebrities would be reviewed. He said the government would not tolerate threats or allow gangs to intimidate people.

The attack drew criticism from opposition leaders, who questioned the state's law and order situation. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad called for a separate home minister, arguing that the chief minister was handling too many portfolios. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule questioned the progress of the investigation into Siddique's murder and asked why concerns over security remained unresolved.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar also raised concerns about recent incidents of violence, including the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty's residence, saying such incidents in Mumbai could affect investor confidence. Other opposition leaders accused the government of failing to curb criminal activity and demanded stronger action against the Bishnoi gang.

Siddique's son Zeeshan, who has previously raised concerns about threats to his own security, expressed shock over the attack. The incident has once again brought the safety of public figures and ordinary citizens in Mumbai into focus as police continue their investigation.