Salman Khan was the target, shooters recced actor's home before attacking Tiger Shroff

Three accused shooters allegedly targeted Salman Khan first but abandoned the plan after finding police deployed outside his residence, a police source said. They later targeted Tiger Shroff, after learning about his regular visits to a Juhu football ground and believing he had less security.

In Short

• Shooters first targeted Salman Khan but aborted due to police presence
• They shifted focus to Tiger Shroff after social media tips about his routine
• Shroff seen as easier target with limited security at Juhu football ground

The three accused shooters initially targeted actor Salman Khan and conducted a recce of his residence after arriving in Mumbai, but abandoned the plan after finding police deployed outside his home, according to a police source.

According to sources, the accused subsequently turned their attention to Shroff after learning through fan posts and Instagram pages that he visited a football ground in Mumbai’s Juhu area every Sunday and had relatively limited security.

The shooters allegedly believed Shroff would be an easier target because he moved around in public with less security, sources said.

Since the firing at Salman Khan’s residence in 2024, his security has been strengthened. He has Y-plus security cover provided by Mumbai Police, with round-the-clock deployment outside his residence and armed policemen accompanying him in a jeep wherever he goes.

Locations he visits are sanitised by local police teams, which also deploy additional personnel at venues he visits, apart from his accompanying security detail. His security has now been further tightened, with barricades erected near his apartment.

Soon after the shooting, Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu, both linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the incident in a social media post while issuing renewed threats to those working with Salman Khan.

The post claimed responsibility for the shooting involving Tiger Shroff and said the actor had failed to heed prior warnings. “Regarding the incident with Tiger Shroff today, we take responsibility. We had called and warned him earlier, but he failed to understand, so today we made him understand properly (sic),” the post read.

The statement went on to issue a direct threat to the wider Hindi film industry, adding, “Whoever in the Mumbai film industry does not listen to us or works with Salman Khan, they will be next. Wait and watch (sic).” The post also warned rival groups against attempting to claim credit for the incident.

WHO WERE THE ATTACKERS?

Three shooters, two from Haryana and one from Bihar, were arrested by Kota Police in Rajasthan in connection with the firing. They were subsequently handed over to Mumbai Police.

Additionally, four others, including two men and two women, were arrested in Haryana’s Sonipat district for their alleged role in supplying weapons on Tuesday night to the shooters involved in the firing at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai, sources said.

The two women, identified as Radha and Babita, were allegedly working as couriers for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. They allegedly travelled by train from Haryana to Mumbai carrying weapons and handed them over to a handler linked to the gang, sources said.

The women were arrested while returning by train, following which they were questioned by the Special Cell. During interrogation, they allegedly disclosed the involvement of a man named Kunal, who was subsequently arrested. Kunal is suspected of being close to Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the gang.

According to sources, Kunal had allegedly sent Radha and Babita to Mumbai with the weapons. Further questioning of Kunal led to the arrest of another man, identified as Sumit.

The police are investigating the alleged roles of all four accused and their suspected links to the wider network involved in the attack.

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