Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff reportedly avoided a planned attack on October 11 after missing his usual Sunday football game, prompting the three suspected shooters to abandon their plan, police believe. A week later, on October 18, the accused returned to the same venue and allegedly opened fire at his BMW as he was leaving the premises.
According to investigators, the three accused—Rehan, Phool Singh and Hrithik Kumar—visited Pushpa Narsee Park in Juhu on October 11, when they may have initially planned to target the actor. However, Tiger did not turn up that day, forcing them to drop their plan.
The suspects allegedly returned to the location on October 18. Police believe they were waiting for the actor, with CCTV footage reportedly showing them repeatedly circling the entrance to the football ground and peering inside from around 4.30 pm.
Tiger regularly plays football at the venue on Sundays between 5 pm and 7 pm. At around 7 pm on October 18, as he was returning from the ground in his BMW, two of the three shooters allegedly opened fire from the front and left side of the vehicle.
The third accused was waiting on a motorcycle and allegedly helped the other two escape after the shooting.
According to the FIR, Tiger’s driver, 48-year-old Firdous Ibrahim Baloch, was behind the wheel. Baloch, who has worked with the actor’s family for 28 years, was struck by a bullet in his left wrist, which became lodged in his forearm.
He also suffered a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand. The complaint additionally mentions injuries to Tiger’s chest and right hand.
In a dramatic turn of events, the injured driver got out of the vehicle, after which Tiger took control of the BMW and drove it to the Santacruz police station.
Police subsequently took both the actor and his driver to Nanavati Hospital in Santacruz West for treatment.
The shooting initially caused confusion among people at the football ground. A birthday celebration for another member of the football team was taking place, and firecrackers had been set off just minutes before the attack.
Some people initially mistook the gunshots for firecrackers. Panic spread after reports emerged that Tiger had been targeted and his driver injured, attracting a crowd outside the ground.
Investigators are now examining whether the suspects’ visit on October 11 was part of an earlier attempt and how it may be connected to the shooting a week later.
Police also suspect that other individuals may have monitored Tiger’s movements and alerted the attackers when he arrived at the venue.
CCTV recordings and call detail records are being examined to trace the accused’s movements, establish how the attack was planned and determine whether others were involved in the alleged conspiracy.
Police suspect that the attackers intended to kill both Tiger and his driver.
