Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): Bollywood actor Aamir Khan was reportedly the initial target of the shooters accused in the October 18 attack involving actor Tiger Shroff, but the alleged plan was changed after they struggled to find an opportunity to reach Khan, according to a report by The Indian Express citing police sources.
Investigators believe the suspects spent nearly a month in Mumbai and carried out surveillance near Khan’s residence on at least three occasions. However, the actor’s filming schedule and the periods he reportedly spent inside his home allegedly made it difficult for them to execute the plan.
The suspects then allegedly turned their attention to Shroff, who was considered easier to approach because he regularly played football at a park in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sundays. The shooting took place at that location on October 18.
Police sources reportedly linked the alleged original plan against Khan to threats he had received in July, which were attributed to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Police Probe Examines Alleged Instructions From Handlers
The investigation has also focused on how the alleged shooters received information while attempting to evade the police. According to sources cited by PTI, the three accused were allegedly kept updated about developments through news reports and encrypted internet-based voice messaging applications.
Crime Branch sources said these updates may have influenced the suspects’ movements as the investigation progressed. After television channels broadcast footage of the attack, one of the accused allegedly received a warning that their faces had become visible and that they should leave the area.
The accused have been identified as Phool Singh, 18, Rehan Rahisuddin Ansari, 18, and Rithik Mahto, 22. They were apprehended by Kota Police in Rajasthan on October 19 while travelling by train. They were subsequently remanded to police custody until October 31.
Investigators are also examining digital evidence suggesting that Rehan communicated regularly with others through internet-based applications, including Signal or Zangi, according to Crime Branch sources.
Suspects Allegedly Changed Travel Plans to Avoid Arrest
Police sources told PTI that the alleged handlers passed on information about the recovery of the motorcycle used in the attack in Mumbai’s Andheri area, as well as reports concerning the suspects’ movements.
The three men allegedly changed their means of transport several times, travelling by motorcycle, train and cab. They were reportedly planning to take a bus from Surat but boarded another train after delays at the bus terminal. An alert from Mumbai Police helped Kota Police locate and apprehend them.
The October 18 attack occurred in Juhu, where at least two men allegedly fired several rounds at Shroff’s car before escaping on a motorcycle. Mumbai Police said five to six rounds were fired. The vehicle believed to have been used in the attack was later found abandoned in Andheri.
The actor was relatively unharmed, while his driver and a bystander sustained injuries, according to the supplied report.
Firearms Recovered in Surat, More Arrests Follow
Investigators subsequently recovered two firearms and 10 live cartridges in Surat, officials told PTI. The weapons were sent for forensic and ballistic examination to determine whether they matched the empty cartridges collected from the scene.
In a separate operation, Mumbai Crime Branch personnel and local police apprehended 22-year-old Pranjal Thakran in Indore, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotia told PTI.
Thakran, who is from Sonipat in Haryana, had reportedly travelled to Indore several days earlier for his paralysed brother’s treatment. Police suspect he may have provided logistical, financial or operational support to the alleged shooters and other suspected conspirators.
His arrest brought the reported number of people detained in connection with the case to 11, with arrests and apprehensions spanning Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.
Anil Pandit Named as Wanted Accused
Mumbai Police have also named gangster Anil Pandit as a wanted accused in the case. Pandit, who is alleged to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and believed to be operating from the United States, reportedly claimed responsibility for the firing in a social media post, PTI reported.
The investigation remains focused on establishing the alleged chain of instructions, the roles of those suspected of providing assistance and the circumstances that led to the attack on Shroff. The reported claims about the intended target and the suspects’ links remain allegations under investigation.
