Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, son of veteran actor Jackie Shroff, was caught in a firing incident in Mumbai on Wednesday night, October 14, when armed men allegedly opened fire at his car while he was on his way home. His driver sustained injuries and was taken to hospital.
According to a report by NDTV, the incident prompted Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to meet the actor on Thursday and assure him of all possible assistance. Shinde also spoke with Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and Jackie Shroff following the meeting. Authorities are expected to provide personal security guards for Tiger Shroff and strengthen police protection at his residence, sources said.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has previously been linked to threats and attacks involving Bollywood personalities, including Salman Khan, reportedly claimed responsibility for targeting the 36-year-old actor, NDTV has reported.
People familiar with the matter said Shroff had received no prior threats and had no known animosity with anyone. During his meeting with Shinde, the actor reportedly expressed confusion over why he had been targeted and said he had no idea why he was being linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang or Salman Khan.
Sources said Shroff also told the deputy chief minister that he usually posed for photographs with fans after his weekend football matches. However, he was tired on Wednesday and skipped the usual interaction, a decision that may have helped him avoid the incident, as reported by NDTV.
Speaking to reporters, Shinde called for a renewed crackdown on criminal networks, drawing parallels with action taken against gangs during the 1990s.
"Their roots were dug up in the 1990s when gang wars had flourished. The time has come to uproot them in the same way again," he said, NDTV has quoted.
Reacting to the firing at Shroff’s car, the deputy chief minister added, "It will be tit-for-tat, bullets for bullets," as quoted by NDTV.
"The safety of citizens is our priority. Why are celebrities being threatened deliberately? The police will go to the root of the matter and destroy these gangs. We will not tolerate gang wars in Mumbai. We will respond in kind," he said, NDTV has quoted.
Gang representative claims Shroff was warned
Meanwhile, a man identified as Anil Pandit, described as a representative of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, reportedly issued a message explaining the alleged motive behind the attack.
According to NDTV, Pandit, who is suspected of operating from the United States, claimed the gang had warned Shroff against working with Salman Khan, who has long been a target of threats, but the actor had ignored the warning.
Pandit, 32, originally hails from a village in Panipat. He reportedly left India for Canada in 2023 using a passport. After allegedly coming into contact with Randeep Malik, a gangster associated with Lawrence Bishnoi, he later travelled to California, where he is suspected of joining the gang, as reported by NDTV.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the firing and identify those responsible for the attack.
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