- Accused promised money, overseas jobs by Anil Pandit.
- Anil Pandit paid Rs 2.5 lakh advance for attack.
- Three shooters arrested in Kota, handed to Mumbai Police.
Tiger Shroff Firing Case: Fresh details have emerged in the alleged firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff. The accused shooters were reportedly promised money and opportunities to work abroad in exchange for carrying out the attack. The alleged handler is also said to have communicated with one of the accused and lured them with promises of financial rewards.
Earlier on Tuesday, a Mumbai Police team left Kota for Mumbai with the three accused shooters. Additional SP Kota City Subhash Chandra Mishra said the team had stayed overnight in Kota to avoid travelling at night.
"They were tired also due to the journey from Mumbai to Kota, so it was not safe for them to travel in the night," he said.
The development comes after local police apprehended the three individuals from the general coach of the Pune-Jaipur Superfast Express at Kota Railway Station on Monday morning.
The accused have been identified as Ritik, alias Roshan, from Begusarai, Bihar, and Rehan from Sonipat, Haryana. The third accused is a juvenile.
Kota City Police subsequently handed them over to Mumbai Police, which formally arrested them and produced them before a magistrate. The court granted transit remand to enable the police to take them to Mumbai.
Anil Pandit Paid Rs 2.5 Lakh in Advance
According to the police, Rehan was in contact with Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which claimed responsibility for the attack in an unverified social media post.
Anil Pandit, the alleged mastermind behind the firing at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai, reportedly paid Rs 2.5 lakh in advance for the planned killing, offered Rehan Rs 34,000 to carry out the attack, and promised to send the accused abroad, News18 reported.
Pandit was reportedly connected live from California during the attack and allegedly directed the accused through an app. He is also suspected of having supplied the weapons used in the shooting. Investigators are examining the alleged financial transactions and communications between Pandit and the men accused of carrying out the attack.
Recommended For You
Pandit had allegedly promised Rehan an opportunity to go abroad after the killing. He also reportedly transferred between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 online each day to cover the accused’s expenses.
ALSO READ: Tiger Shroff Firing Case: Mumbai Police Takes Custody Of 3 Shooters Arrested In Kota
The accused had reportedly been staying at a hotel in Mumbai for around a month before the shooting. During this period, they allegedly made online payments to shopkeepers and collected cash in return. Investigators are now examining this arrangement to determine how the accused financed their expenses.
Following the firing, the accused allegedly attempted to change their appearance to evade detection while fleeing Mumbai.
ALSO READ: Tiger Shroff Firing Case: Bike Used In Attack Recovered In Andheri, Changed Hands Thrice
According to News18, citing Rajasthan Police, Rehan and the juvenile accused had long hair at the time of the incident but cut it and changed their clothes during the train journey. The three accused reportedly sat separately in different parts of the train to avoid attracting suspicion.
Pandit had allegedly instructed them to reach Delhi quickly before being sent to Nepal. Investigators are probing their planned route and whether further assistance had been arranged for them after they reached the national capital.
Meanwhile, shortly after the alleged assassination attempt, an audio clip surfaced on social media. In the recording, a man can be heard speaking in Hindi, claiming to represent the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and taking responsibility for the attack.
He said, "I am Anil Pandit. I am like a younger brother to Lawrence Bishnoi. What happened with Tiger Shroff today? We take responsibility for that -- Harman Sandhu and I."
He added that Tiger Shroff "was counselled but did not understand us" and issued death threats to those associated with actor Salman Khan.
"In the entire film industry, whoever works without aligning with us or works with Salman Khan will be killed. This is the first and last warning."
What Happened?
On Sunday evening, at least two men allegedly fired shots at Shroff's car in Mumbai's Juhu area before fleeing on a motorcycle. The actor escaped luckily unhurt, while his driver and a bystander sustained injuries.
Around five to six rounds were reportedly fired at the car. The accused allegedly fled to Surat, where they boarded a Jaipur-bound train. A motorcycle suspected of having been used by the shooters was later found abandoned in Andheri.
The three accused were reportedly planning to travel to Delhi by bus before fleeing to Nepal.
Mumbai Police have registered a case under the relevant provisions relating to attempted murder and the Arms Act.