Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff was allegedly chosen as an alternative target after the men accused of shooting at his car in Mumbai failed to reach another prominent celebrity, according to findings attributed to the Mumbai Crime Branch.
The development emerged on October 20 as Mumbai Police took custody of three suspects arrested in Kota, Rajasthan, in connection with the October 18 shooting in Mumbai’s Juhu area. A local court granted police 48-hour transit remand to move the accused to Mumbai for further investigation.
Investigators reportedly believe the suspects abandoned their initial plan because the other celebrity had tighter security. They then allegedly turned their attention to Shroff, whom they considered easier to approach.
Police reports have not consistently identified the celebrity in their initial account. Separate reporting by Hindustan Times identified Salman Khan as the suspected original target, citing Mumbai Police sources. That identification should be treated as a reported investigative finding, not as an independently established fact.
What happened in Mumbai?
The shooting took place at around 7pm on Sunday, October 18, in Juhu, Mumbai, when Shroff was leaving a football club. The assailants allegedly fired at his car.
Reports indicate that Shroff escaped serious harm, while his driver and a bystander were injured. Details about the injuries have varied between reports, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The incident prompted a police investigation into the identities of the alleged shooters, how the attack was organised and whether other individuals were involved in planning or facilitating it.
The three suspects were arrested in Kota, Rajasthan. Following the court’s transit-remand order, Mumbai Police were authorised to take them to Mumbai for questioning and further investigation.
Why investigators believe the target changed
According to the account attributed to the Crime Branch, the suspects initially intended to attack a different high-profile Bollywood personality but could not get close enough because of security arrangements.
Reports from NDTV and India Today, citing investigative sources, add that the suspects allegedly used social media posts and fan-shared videos to learn about Shroff’s movements and identify opportunities to approach him. These details remain allegations reported during the investigation; they should not be treated as independently proven findings.
The reported shift in target is an important part of the investigation because it may help establish whether the attack was planned specifically against Shroff or formed part of a broader effort to threaten another public figure.
Investigators will need to establish the alleged roles of the arrested men, the extent of any wider conspiracy and the evidence connecting each suspect to the shooting.
Salman Khan’s name emerges in reports
Salman Khan has featured in coverage of the case because a purported audio message circulated after the shooting in which a person claiming links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the attack and referred to Shroff’s association with Khan.
The account published by Gulf News reported the purported claim and its warning to members of the film industry associated with Khan. Such a claim does not, by itself, establish who ordered the shooting or prove the identity and affiliations of the person behind the message.
Separately, Hindustan Times reported on October 21 that the suspects had allegedly conducted reconnaissance near Khan’s residence in Mumbai before abandoning that plan because of security arrangements. This account was attributed to police sources and should remain clearly identified as such
The distinction matters: police statements, information attributed to investigators and claims made by people purporting to represent criminal groups are different categories of evidence. They should not be presented as interchangeable.
What happens next in the investigation?
The transfer of the three suspects to Mumbai allows investigators to continue questioning them and examine evidence connected with the alleged attack. Police will need to establish the sequence of events, determine the suspects’ respective roles and assess any evidence of assistance from people who were not present at the scene.
The reported involvement of a wider network, including the purported gang claim, remains a matter for investigation. Arrests and allegations do not amount to convictions, and the suspects’ guilt must be established through the legal process.
For now, the principal new detail is the Crime Branch’s reported assessment that Shroff was not the first person the suspects intended to target. The precise identity of that person and the full chain of responsibility should be reported with clear attribution as the investigation develops.
1. What happened in the Tiger Shroff shooting case?
Shots were allegedly fired at Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on October 18, 2026. Investigators subsequently reported that the suspects may initially have intended to target another prominent celebrity.
2. When did the shooting involving Tiger Shroff take place?
The incident took place on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at around 7pm in Juhu, Mumbai.
3. Why do police believe Tiger Shroff was not the original target?
According to the Crime Branch account reported by news organisations, the suspects allegedly could not approach their initial target because of tight security and subsequently chose Shroff.
4. Was Salman Khan the original target?
Hindustan Times reported, citing Mumbai Police sources, that Salman Khan was the intended original target. However, the Crime Branch statement reported by other outlets initially referred only to another prominent Bollywood celebrity, so the identification should remain attributed to those reports.
5. Have suspects been arrested in the Tiger Shroff shooting case?
Yes. Three suspects were arrested in Kota, Rajasthan, and a local court granted police 48-hour transit remand to take them to Mumbai for further investigation.
6. Was Tiger Shroff injured in the shooting?
Reports said Shroff escaped serious harm. His driver and a bystander were reported injured, although published accounts differ on some details of the injuries.
7. Has the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility?
A purported representative claiming links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang reportedly claimed responsibility in an audio message. The existence of that claim does not independently prove who ordered or carried out the attack.
8. Is the investigation complete?
No completion was reported in the sources consulted. Police were continuing their investigation after the suspects’ arrests and transit-remand order.
