Three main accused involved in the shooting incident targeting Tiger Shroff initially sought to flee to Nepal via bus
Meanwhile, Mumbai police have arrested an engineering student from Indore in connection with the October 18 firing outside a location in Juhu. Pranjal Thakaran, 22, who is pursuing engineering in Sonipat, Haryana, is the 11th suspect arrested in the case. In a parallel development, police recovered a Turkish-made Zigana pistol, a country-made firearm and 10 live cartridges from Surat. The search took around eight to 10 hours.
MUMBAI: The three main accused in the firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff had planned to travel from Surat to Delhi by bus before entering Nepal, but their escape plan fell through after they arrived at the bus stand too late and missed their bus, police said. Investigators said Thakaran’s name emerged during the questioning of arrested suspects and through technical evidence. A Mumbai police officer said his suspected links to the weapons supply chain were also being examined. Sources said the arrested shooters were taken to the city to identify the location where they had allegedly discarded the weapons.
Following the setback, alleged mastermind Anil Pandit, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang that has claimed responsibility for the attack, allegedly activated an alternative plan. He sent fresh instructions to the shooters through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls routed via Ankit Khatak, another accused who has been arrested. He is suspected of being part of the support network and allegedly having links with one of the shooters. Technical surveillance and other inputs helped the joint team trace and arrest him.
Thakaran was arrested at a rehabilitation centre in Indore, where he had arrived five days earlier to meet his brother, who is undergoing treatment. Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya said Mumbai Crime Branch contacted Indore police on Thursday night after receiving information about the suspect’s presence in the city.