Tiger Shroff firing: accused visited football ground a week before attack, police suspect

The shooting at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff has caused alarm in the film industry. New details are emerging in the investigation. According to police, the accused had started watching Shroff's movements about a week before the attack.

Police say the accused went to the football ground at Pushpa Narsi Park in Juhu on 11 October. Police suspect that Shroff did not come to the ground that day, so the accused went back. The firing took place in the same area on 18 October.

The investigation has found that the three accused, Rehan, Phool Singh and Hritik, reached the ground on 11 October. Police are trying to establish whether they had planned to target Shroff that day as well. It is suspected that the accused returned without committing any offence because Shroff did not turn up.

On 18 October the accused were again seen near the ground. At about 4.30 pm, CCTV footage reportedly shows them loitering near the gate of Pushpa Narsi Park. They were repeatedly moving around the gate and peering into the ground. Police are examining whether they were checking if Shroff was at the ground.

Police have also said that some more people could be involved. They are investigating whether people other than the accused were also watching Shroff's movements and passing word of his presence to the attackers. For this, police are going through CCTV footage and call detail records (CDR). Efforts continue to find out when the accused planned the attack, what the motive was and who else had a hand in it.

According to the information recorded in the FIR, Shroff was returning from the football ground in a BMW car at about 7 pm on 18 October. The car was being driven by his driver, Firdaus Ibrahim Baloch, who is said to have worked with Shroff's family for 28 years.

The FIR states that as the car came out of the ground and was turning left, two attackers fired from the front and from the left. One of the accused wore a white floral shirt and black trousers, while the other wore a light blue full-sleeved shirt and black trousers. The third accused stood with a motorcycle in a chocolate-brown T-shirt and grey trousers. He is alleged to have helped both shooters flee after the firing.

According to the FIR, driver Baloch was hit by a bullet in the left wrist and also injured in the ring finger of his right hand. The complaint also mentions injuries to Shroff's chest and right hand.

After the firing, the driver reportedly opened the car door and got out. Shroff then sat in the driver's seat himself and took the injured driver to Santacruz police station. Police then took both to Nanavati Hospital in Santacruz West for treatment.

At the time, a team member's birthday was being celebrated at the ground and firecrackers had been burst shortly before. On hearing the gunshots, some people initially thought firecrackers were going off. But once news spread that Shroff and his driver were injured, panic broke out outside the ground.

The investigation also considers it significant that Shroff usually comes to play at the Pushpa Narsi football ground between 5 and 7 pm on Sundays. He rarely misses a match. Police are looking into whether the accused had studied this routine.

Police suspect the shots were fired with the intention of killing Shroff and his driver. Whether there is a link between the accused's alleged reconnaissance on 11 October and the firing on 18 October will become clear from the investigation. To find out the real motive, who helped the accused and who else was part of the conspiracy, police are examining CCTV footage, call detail records and the accused's movements. Everything will become clear only once the investigation is complete.