Mumbai police have arrested an 11th suspect in the firing incident involving Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, as investigators recovered two pistols and 10 live cartridges in Surat that are believed to have been used in the attack.
The suspect, 22-year-old Pranjal Thakran, was arrested in Indore on Saturday in a joint operation by the Mumbai Crime Branch and local police, officials said. Thakran, originally from Sonepat in Haryana, had travelled to Indore five days earlier to visit his brother, who is undergoing treatment for paralysis.
Police suspect Thakran provided logistical support and financial or operational assistance to the shooters and key conspirators behind the attack. He was produced before a magistrate in Indore, which granted a three-day transit remand, and he is being brought to Mumbai to appear before the Esplanade court.
Two pistols recovered in Surat
On Friday, police carried out targeted raids at a hideout in Surat, Gujarat, and recovered a Turkish-made Zigana pistol, a country-made firearm and 10 live cartridges, an official said. Investigators had taken arrested shooters to Surat to locate the spot where the weapons were discarded, and it took around eight to 10 hours to find them.
The recovered weapons and ammunition have been sent for forensic examination and ballistic testing at the Kalina forensic science laboratory to determine whether they match the empty shell casings collected from the crime scene.
Police sources noted that the Zigana pistol model has been linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in previous criminal investigations, adding a new layer of complexity to the inquiry. Investigators say they are still working to establish the origin of the weapons and identify others allegedly involved in supplying them.
The October 18 attack
The attack took place on the evening of October 18 in Mumbai's Juhu area, when at least two men on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire at Shroff's car, firing five to six rounds before fleeing. The actor escaped unhurt, while his driver and a bystander sustained injuries.
Police sources said the assailants who fled after the shooting were receiving real-time updates from their handlers about the police investigation through news channel coverage, allowing them to change their escape routes.
Investigators are examining Thakran's alleged links to the weapon supply chain and his communication with the primary shooter, but say his exact role in the broader conspiracy will only be established through continued questioning. The investigation is continuing, and police are probing the possible involvement of additional parties.