Tiger Shroff Firing Case: Handlers Allegedly Sent Updates

The three men accused of involvement in the firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai allegedly received real-time updates about the police investigation from their handlers, who monitored media coverage to help them evade arrest. According to police sources cited by news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), the accused repeatedly changed their mode of transport while attempting to escape after the October 18 shooting.

The three men, identified as Phool Singh, 18, Rehan Rahisuddin Ansari, 18, and Rithik Mahto, 22, were intercepted by Kota Police in Rajasthan on October 19, a day after the firing. They remain in police custody until October 31, according to the report.

Investigators are examining communications through encrypted messaging platforms and internet-based calling services, including Signal and Zangi, as they seek to establish how the accused allegedly coordinated the attack, received information about the investigation and attempted to avoid arrest.

Handlers Allegedly Warned Accused After Attack Footage Appeared on Television

According to sources familiar with the Mumbai Police Crime Branch investigation, one of the main suspects allegedly received an urgent message while the trio was on the run. The message reportedly came after television channels broadcast visuals of the attack.

The warning was allegedly delivered in Hindi: “Tumhare chehre aa gaye hain, nikal jao waha se,” meaning that their faces had appeared in the coverage and they should leave the location.

Investigators suspect that the handlers were monitoring news reports and passing information to the accused as developments became public. This alleged flow of information may have helped the men adjust their movements in response to reports about the police investigation.

Police sources said the accused were allegedly informed about developments including the recovery of the motorcycle believed to have been used in the attack and their subsequent train journey. Investigators are examining whether the information provided by the handlers influenced the trio’s decisions during the escape.

The alleged communications have become an important aspect of the probe because they could help investigators understand the relationship between the accused and the people suspected of directing or supporting their movements.

Three Accused Allegedly Changed Transport Modes to Avoid Arrest

The firing took place on the evening of October 18 in Mumbai’s Juhu area, when two shooters allegedly fired several rounds at Shroff’s car. The actor escaped relatively unhurt, while his driver and a vlogger sustained injuries.

The incident prompted a police investigation extending across multiple states. Authorities subsequently arrested 10 individuals from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in connection with the case, according to the supplied report.

The three key accused were intercepted by Kota Police on October 19. Investigators believe that after the shooting, the men attempted to evade police by changing transport modes several times as they travelled away from Mumbai.

“The constant feed prompted the trio to frequently shift modes of transport, moving from a motorcycle to a train, followed by a cab, before planning to board a bus from Surat,” police sources told PTI.

The reported sequence suggests that the accused were attempting to remain mobile while avoiding detection. Investigators are examining whether media reports and messages from their handlers contributed to the decisions to switch between different forms of transport.

The trio reportedly encountered a delay at the Surat bus terminal, forcing them to board another train instead. Mumbai Police alerted their counterparts in Kota, where the three men were eventually apprehended.

The arrests followed coordination between police units in different locations. Investigators are continuing to examine the accused’s movements and communications to establish how the escape plan was organised and whether other individuals helped them along the way.

Signal and Zangi Communications Under Mumbai Police Scanner

The Crime Branch is examining the possible use of encrypted messaging applications and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services in the case. PTI, citing Crime Branch sources, reported that an analysis of digital evidence indicated that Rehan Ansari remained in frequent contact with other individuals through internet-based communication services.

Investigators are looking into applications such as Signal and Zangi as part of their efforts to establish the communication links between the accused and their alleged handlers.

Such platforms can support internet-based messaging and calls, making digital evidence an important area of investigation when authorities are attempting to reconstruct communications surrounding an alleged crime. However, the specific applications used by the accused and the precise nature of their conversations remain matters under investigation.

Police are examining whether these communications contained instructions about the escape, updates about the investigation or other information relevant to the alleged attack. Establishing the timing and context of the exchanges could help investigators build a clearer account of the movements of the accused after the shooting.

The inquiry into digital communications also forms part of the wider effort to identify the people who allegedly provided logistical assistance and determine how the incident was coordinated.

Gangster Anil Pandit Named as Wanted Accused

Mumbai Police have named gangster Anil Pandit as a wanted accused in the case. According to the supplied report, Pandit is alleged to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which is believed to have links operating from the United States.

Pandit reportedly claimed responsibility for the October 18 firing in a social media post. The claim is part of the material being reported in connection with the case, while the investigation continues to examine the alleged roles of the individuals involved.

Investigators are seeking to establish the relationship between the three men arrested in Rajasthan, the people suspected of providing logistical support and the alleged handlers who may have directed their movements.

The reported use of real-time updates, along with the investigation into encrypted messaging and internet-based calls, has placed communication networks at the centre of the probe. Police are attempting to determine who supplied information to the accused, how instructions were transmitted and whether additional suspects remain involved.

Investigation Focuses on Logistics, Digital Evidence and Escape Route

The Tiger Shroff firing case has involved police coordination across state boundaries, arrests in multiple states and an examination of the accused’s alleged movements following the incident. Investigators are also looking into how the suspects allegedly received updates while attempting to leave the region.

The reported movement from a motorcycle to a train and then a cab, followed by an attempted journey by bus from Surat, forms a key part of the investigation into the escape route. Police sources believe that information passed on by handlers may have prompted the accused to change their plans as details appeared in the media.

Digital evidence is expected to remain an important focus as investigators examine the reported communications involving Rehan and others. The probe into Signal, Zangi and other possible communication services may help establish contact between the accused and individuals suspected of coordinating the operation.

Authorities are also working to clarify the alleged roles of the arrested individuals and the wanted accused. The investigation’s findings will be important in determining how the shooting was planned, who provided assistance and whether the alleged handlers directly influenced the escape attempt.

As of the details reported by PTI and the Hindustan Times correspondent, the three key accused remain in police custody, while Mumbai Police continue investigating the alleged communication network and the wider circumstances surrounding the October 18 firing.