'I have no enmity with anyone': Tiger Shroff's first reaction to shooting attack

Actor Tiger Shroff is still struggling to come to terms with the shooting attack on his car in Mumbai's Juhu area on October 18, sources said. The actor has reportedly told the Mumbai Police Crime Branch that he had no known enmity with anyone and was unable to understand why he was targeted.

"I am in deep shock. I do not wish to say anything right now. Who would want to carry out such a life-threatening attack on me, and why," he told a team of Mumbai Police's Crime Branch, which had gone to his residence to record his statement, according to sources.

"I have no enmity with anyone... so why was I attacked," Shroff said.

The 36-year-old actor escaped unhurt, but his driver, Firdous Baloch, and a vlogger, Umesh Chauhan, sustained injuries. Police have recorded their statements, while Shroff is yet to give his formal statement, sources said.

How the attack unfolded

The shooting took place around 7 pm on October 18, when Shroff was returning after playing football. He was sitting in the front passenger seat of his BMW when two men allegedly opened fire, firing at least five to six rounds before fleeing on a motorcycle.

Videos that surfaced after the incident showed the assailants firing at the vehicle. Shroff was later seen driving the car to take his injured driver to a hospital.

The accused were identified as Phool Singh and Rehan Rahisuddin Ansari, both 18, from Haryana, and Hritik Kumar alias Roshan, 22, from Bihar. They were arrested in Rajasthan's Kota after travelling through Surat.

Shooters allegedly changed escape plan

Investigators said the accused initially planned to travel from Surat to Delhi by bus and then escape to Nepal. After missing the bus, they allegedly received fresh instructions from Anil Pandit, a suspected member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who has claimed responsibility for the attack, through VoIP calls routed via another arrested accused, Ankit Khatak.

The three allegedly boarded the Pune-Jaipur Express at around 1.33 am after hiding the firearms and ammunition near the Surat bus stand. Police tracked their movements using CCTV footage from the bus stand and railway station.

Investigators also found that a Turkish-made Zigana pistol allegedly used by Rehan had jammed during the shooting, causing two live cartridges to fall out. Phool Singh allegedly fired using a country-made pistol.

Arrest count reaches 11

The number of arrests in the case rose to 11 after Mumbai Police arrested Pranjal Thakran, 22, in Indore on Saturday. Originally from Sonipat, Haryana, he had travelled to Indore for his paralysed brother's treatment, police said. Investigators suspect he provided logistical, financial or operational support to the shooters and conspirators.

On Friday, police recovered two firearms allegedly used in the attack and 10 live cartridges from a hideout in Surat. The weapons have been sent for forensic analysis.