MUMBAI: In yet another instance of a gangland attack on a film personality, unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants repeatedly fired at a car carrying actor Tiger Shroff and his driver Firdaus in Juhu around 7 pm Sunday, injuring Firdaus on his hand and a fan standing nearby who sustained bullet wounds near his chest.Seven shots were fired in all. The actor who was leaving after attending a birthday party at Pushpa Narsee Park, also known as Jamnabai Nursery, escaped with “minor abrasions” from pieces of shattered glass from the vehicle’s windscreen.Two persons identifying themselves as Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu, and claiming to be affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, took responsibility for the attack in a voice note posted on social media.Amid political reactions questioning the city’s law and order situation, CM Devendra Fadnavis took a briefing from police commissioner Deven Bharti and sought strict action. He also rang Tiger Shroff and assured him saying, “We are all with you.”
The incident took place barely 350 metres away from Juhu police station. The vehicle was slowly exiting the venue when two of the assailants, standing amidst a crowd of curious onlookers, sprang in front of the car and opened fire repeatedly. At least one bullet went through the shattered glass of the vehicle. Juhu police said the three assailants, in white shirts, fled in seconds towards SV Road and Vile Parle railway station on a bike kept idling by their accomplice.Despite being injured, Shroff’s driver emerged from the vehicle and tried to chase them. A senior doctor at Nanavati Hospital, where Shroff and Firdaus were taken, said initial scans showed a foreign body lodged in the latter’s left hand as a result of a bullet injury. He is likely to undergo surgery.In a purported video going viral on social media, one of the two shooters appears unable to fire when he is closest to the car window. The gun seemingly jams as he prepares to fire a sixth shot at point-blank range.
Tiger attack: 15 teams tracing shooters
Police were registering an FIR and seeking details from actor Tiger Shroff about any recent threat calls or warnings after unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants repeatedly fired at his car on Sunday. Fifteen teams have been formed to trace the assailants. Juhu police and Mumbai crime branch officers were examining CCTV footage to identify them and establish their escape route.“Shroff only has minor abrasions,” said a senior doctor at Nanavati Hospital. The actor was in the hospital’s emergency room till the time of going to the press, awaiting doctor’s advice on his discharge and the treatment plan for his driver.
Actor ignored warnings
The third person injured in the firing—a passerby identified by police as 35-year-old Umesh Charan—sustained bullet injuries on the right side of his chest, according to Dr Chhaya Shinde, dean of BMC-run Cooper Hospital in Juhu. “He is stable at the moment but will need immediate surgery,” said a doctor.In a press release, BMC said the third patient arrived at the Cooper Hospital casualty at 7.10pm with a “history of a gunshot wound sustained at 6.30pm at Vile Parle West while covering a football match featuring Tiger Shroff. “The patient came with an entry wound at 2cm below left nipple,” the release added.Police initially said Shroff suffered slight abrasions from glass fragments after the car’s windows shattered, but DCP (west zone 2) Mohit Garg said the actor was not injured.Meanwhile, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility on social media for the attack. The gang claimed Shroff had been targeted as he ignored their warnings and they also threatened to target anyone who works with superstar Salman Khan.Sources said that Shroff had been being tracked by the shooters for a few days.Posted by Lawrence’s aide, Anil Pandit, the message explicitly stated that Pandit and Harman Sandhu took full responsibility for the action taken against the actor. According to the post, the individuals involved had previously contacted the actor with warnings that were allegedly ignored, leading to the latest targeted event.The statement went on to issue a broad warning to members of the Mumbai film industry, threatening that anyone who fails to listen to them or continues to work with Salman Khan will be targeted next. The message concluded with threats directed at rival gang members and was accompanied by several hashtags referencing the Lawrence Bishnoi group and other affiliated associate networks. Police are verifying the social media post and a voice note.Pandit had earlier claimed responsibility for a shooting outside singer Guru Randhawa’s Delhi gym over an alleged Salman Khan connection.The incident evoked alarm within the film and political circles given the previous fatal attack on politician Baba Siddique in Bandra and the incidence of firing at Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartment in Bandra Bandstand in 2024.Siddique’s son Zeeshan expressed shock and horror at Sunday’s attack on Tiger Shroff, while NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule echoed his fears over the worsening law and order situation in the state.