The first pictures have emerged after Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff sustained minor injuries in a firing incident in Mumbai's Juhu area. The latest images show Tiger Shroff with dressings on his shoulder and chest and a bandage on his right arm as he interacted with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Mumbai Police have recorded the statement of Tiger Shroff’s driver, Firdous. According to officials, shots were fired at Tiger Shroff’s vehicle on Sunday evening at 7:00 PM, and his driver, Firdous, sustained a gunshot wound to his left hand. Both the Mumbai Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch are investigating the incident. The police have formed 15 teams to investigate the case. The driver was reportedly hit by bullets, while the actor escaped without any gunshot injuries.
Who Tried to Attack Tiger Shroff?
According to a viral social media post, the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the police are yet to verify the post's authenticity. The post claimed that the actor had been warned over the phone and alleged that he was targeted for attempting to work with Salman Khan. It further warned that others who collaborated with Khan would also be targeted, adding, "Wait and watch."
Watch: Exact Moment Tiger Shroff's Car Was Shot
Videos circulating on the internet show an unidentified person opening fire at the actor's car while paparazzi were busy asking the actor to pose for exclusive footage. In the same video, two unidentified persons are seen firing at his car. Subsequently, Tiger is seen taking the driver's seat. Police confirmed that his driver was injured in the firing incident. However, they did not clarify whether the driver was wounded by gunshots or injured amid the chaos inside the BMW sedan.
Soon after the incident, a forensic team visited the scene to collect ballistic evidence, inspect the vehicle and ascertain the exact number of rounds fired. Police are currently analysing CCTV footage from surrounding locations to determine the identities and total number of assailants involved in the incident.
Deputy CM Shinde Visits Actor; CM Calls
Following the incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Tiger Shroff's residence on Sunday night to enquire about his well-being. His mother, Ayesha Shroff, was also present during Shinde's late-night visit.
Images from the meeting showed the actor with dressings on his shoulder and chest and a bandage on his right arm as he interacted with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Tiger's mother, Ayesha Shroff, was also present during the meeting.
Shinde condemned the firing incident. He said Tiger had sustained injuries to his hand caused by "gunpowder and shards of glass" and assured the family that the state government would take the necessary steps to ensure their safety.
“This is a major incident... five rounds were fired, but fortunately, he was safe. His driver sustained injuries, and the incident is condemnable. I met with the actor; he has injuries on his left hand caused by gunpowder and shards of glass. Both he and his mother are quite shaken... I have assured them that the state government stands with them in the face of the open threats being directed at public figures... No form of threat will be tolerated. Such gang wars were quite common in the 90s, but the Mumbai Police put an end to them in 1995... These attempts to intimidate people will not be tolerated, and we will put an end to this hooliganism,” Shinde said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he had spoken to the Mumbai Police Commissioner and actor Shroff after the latter escaped a probable assassination attempt. Fadnavis sought details of the incident from Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and asked him to apprehend the assailants quickly, expedite the investigation and take strict action against those responsible.
He also spoke to Shroff over the phone and assured him of the government's support, saying the accused would be traced soon and asking him not to worry, according to the Chief Minister's Office.
"We are all with you. We will track down the accused soon. Do not worry," Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, told the actor.
FWICE, AICWA Condemn Firing Incident Involving Tiger Shroff
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on Sunday strongly condemned the firing incident involving Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff's vehicle and called for immediate security measures to ensure the safety of the actor and his family.
FWICE stated that acts of violence and intimidation were unacceptable and raised serious concerns about the safety and security of personalities associated with the Indian film industry.
"It is deeply disturbing that this is the second such incident involving a prominent personality from the film industry, following the earlier firing incident involving renowned filmmaker Rohit Shetty. The recurrence of such incidents is a matter of grave concern and calls for immediate, decisive and effective action by the concerned authorities,"
Similarly, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) issued a statement condemning the firing and alleging that the government and police had failed to prevent repeated attacks targeting members of the film industry.
"Today it is Tiger Shroff. Who is next? When a celebrity is not safe in the heart of Mumbai, how can an ordinary Mumbaikar feel safe?" the association said.
AICWA cited several previous incidents, including the firing outside Salman Khan's Bandra residence, the attack in which Saif Ali Khan was stabbed at his Bandra home, the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Juhu residence and repeated attacks on comedian Kapil Sharma's cafe.
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"This is not an isolated incident. Shots were fired outside Salman Khan's residence in Bandra. Actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed in an attack at his Bandra home. Shots were fired outside the Juhu home of filmmaker Rohit Shetty. Comedian Kapil Sharma's cafe was attacked repeatedly. Now Tiger Shroff has been fired upon. One after another, people from the film industry are being targeted, and a deliberate atmosphere of fear is being created. The intent is plain: gangsters want to terrorise Bollywood personalities and extort money from them," AICWA said.