Investigation Deepens in Juhu Shooting Incident

MUMBAI: In a significant breakthrough in the high-profile firing incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, Mumbai Police have apprehended the 11th suspect involved in the conspiracy. The accused, identified as 22-year-old Pranjal Thakral, was tracked down and arrested from Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

According to the Crime Branch, Thakral—a diploma holder in engineering—was tasked with executing the shooting plan, which included arranging crucial logistics and funding for the shooters. Investigators revealed that Thakral also provided the second firearm used in the October 18 attack outside Pushpa Narsee Park in Mumbai's upscale Juhu neighborhood.

International Nexus and Encrypted Communications

Police investigations point to a deeper international conspiracy, with authorities suspecting that mastermind Anil Pandit is operating out of the United States. Pandit, allegedly linked to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, is believed to have orchestrated the plot.

To bypass law enforcement surveillance, Pandit and Thakral reportedly relied heavily on secret messaging applications. Investigators have recovered extensive chat logs from Thakral's mobile device. Financial transaction records and chat analyses are currently underway to dismantle Pandit's broader international network and tracing channels.

History of Criminal Activity

Pranjal Thakral is no stranger to law enforcement. Court and police records indicate he was released on bail as recently as March after serving time for a previous shooting targeting a businessman in Panipat, Haryana—also executed under Pandit's direct instructions. Investigators noted that almost immediately upon securing his release, Thakral resumed coordination with Pandit to plot the Juhu assault.

Following his arrest in Indore, Thakral was transported to Mumbai and produced before a holiday bench of the Killa Court on Sunday. The court has remanded him to police custody until October 31 as the Crime Branch continues its aggressive pursuit of the primary mastermind.

Recap of the Juhu Attack

The incident unfolded on the evening of October 18, when at least two armed assailants opened fire on the 36-year-old actor's vehicle as he departed from a football match at Pushpa Narsee Ground. The shooters subsequently fled on a motorcycle, abandoning the vehicle in Andheri before embarking on a multi-state transit through Surat, Pune, and Jaipur.

Three alleged shooters were eventually intercepted and arrested by law enforcement in Kota, Rajasthan, while attempting to flee toward Nepal via New Delhi. Sources within the police department indicate that the criminal syndicate initially evaluated alternative high-profile targets before settling on Shroff, altering their operational plans due to stringent security arrangements surrounding other potential targets.