Another arrest from Haryana's Sonipat in Tiger Shroff firing case, 12 accused held so far

The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested one more accused in the case of the firing on actor Tiger Shroff, a police officer said. With this arrest, the total number of accused held in the case has risen to 12.

According to the officer, the accused was arrested from Sonipat in Haryana. He was being brought to Mumbai on transit remand for further investigation. An officer said, "Acting on specific inputs received during the investigation, a Crime Branch team detained the suspect in Haryana on Thursday, October 29, with the help of the Sonipat police."

The action came after a hearing held the same day. Earlier, all 11 accused in the case had been produced before the special court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The court sent them to police custody till November 6.

At the hearing, the judge asked all the accused whether they had any complaint or wished to say anything. The judge also asked whether they understood Marathi, and directed them to cooperate with the investigation.

Earlier, the Esplanade Court in Mumbai had sent four accused to police custody till October 28. The four, named Kunal, Sumit, Radha and Babita, were being produced before the Esplanade Court for the second time. The court is also known as the Killa Court.

The firing took place at around 7 pm on October 18 in Juhu. Tiger Shroff was leaving a football club at the time. The actor was not hurt, but his driver was injured. Mumbai Police have invoked MCOCA provisions against all the accused in the case. The investigation into the shooting and the roles of those allegedly involved is continuing.

In a separate action, the 11th accused was arrested from Indore. Pranjal Thakran, 22, a resident of Kharkhoda in Haryana's Sonipat district, was picked up on October 24 jointly by the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Indore Crime Branch. He was brought to Mumbai on transit remand and produced before the Esplanade Court on October 25. There, the Mumbai Crime Branch's anti-extortion cell got his police custody till October 31.

Investigators suspect that Thakran may have given the alleged shooters logistical or other help. Police are examining his suspected role, his contacts, his possible criminal record and his alleged association with Anil Pandit, to establish whether these links had anything to do with the firing.

According to preliminary information, Thakran had gone from Sonipat to Indore about five days before his arrest. He had gone there to meet his brother, who was undergoing treatment. On learning that he was in Indore, a Mumbai Crime Branch team reached the city and, with the help of local police, traced and arrested him.