MUMBAI: The first images purportedly showing the assailants involved in the firing at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu have emerged, as police intensify their search for the men who opened fire on the actor’s vehicle on Sunday evening.
The images show two men standing together, both apparently wearing blue shirts, with one of them sporting a black cap. Their identities and the circumstances in which the images were captured are yet to be established.
The firing took place around 7 pm on Sunday as Shroff was leaving Pushpa Narsee Park, also known as Jamnabai Nursery, after attending a birthday gathering. Three assailants were allegedly involved in the attack, with two opening fire at the actor’s car while the third waited on a motorcycle to facilitate their escape.
Seven rounds were reportedly fired during the incident, which occurred barely 350 metres from Juhu police station. The assailants fled towards SV Road and Vile Parle railway station, police said.
Shroff escaped without any gunshot injuries, although he sustained minor abrasions from shattered glass. His driver, Firdaus, suffered a bullet injury to his left hand, while a passerby, identified as Umesh Charan, was also injured in the firing.
An eyewitness, Salma Shaikh, who runs a blog and regularly films celebrities in the area, recounted the moments leading up to the shooting. She said she and other content creators had gathered near the venue after watching Shroff and other actors play football.
According to Shaikh, the group initially mistook the gunshots for firecrackers being burst ahead of Diwali. They realised the seriousness of the incident when the car stopped and the driver emerged injured.
Police have formed 15 teams, including personnel from the Mumbai Crime Branch, to identify and trace the assailants. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and collecting forensic evidence to establish the sequence of events.
Meanwhile, a social media post and voice note purportedly claiming responsibility for the attack have surfaced in the name of individuals identifying themselves as Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu, who claimed links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The authenticity of the claims is being verified by police.
The purported message alleged that Shroff had ignored warnings and threatened others in the film industry who continued to work with actor Salman Khan. Police are investigating the claims as part of the probe.
