The investigation into the firing incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff has revealed that the shooters were in constant contact with their handler through phone calls and messages. Investigators suspect that the accused were also receiving real-time updates about the police investigation, including information broadcast on television news channels.

According to sources, the shooters remained in touch with their handler during and after the October 18 attack. They were provided with updates about developments in the case and the police operation to identify and apprehend them.

Sources said that after information about the shooters’ identities and appearances began emerging, the handler instructed them to leave the area. The accused were also reportedly kept informed about news coverage of the incident.

Investigators suspect that someone was monitoring television news channels and passing relevant information to the accused.

When footage of the shooting and images of the suspects, captured in videos recorded by vloggers, were broadcast, one of the accused, Rehan Ansari, received messages instructing him to leave.

However, the identity of the person who monitored television coverage and relayed information to the shooters remains unknown. The police are investigating the communication network used by the accused and their associates.

According to police sources, investigators suspect that Anil Pandit, who is believed to be in the US, or Ankit Khattak and Sameer Khatri, who were recently arrested in Sonipat, may have been involved in directing Rehan through Internet-based communication applications.

The police have reportedly recovered photographs, videos and details of conversations from the accused. The investigation has also revealed that the suspects allegedly changed their travel plans and modes of transport in response to information about police movements.

After the firing at Tiger Shroff’s car on October 18, the three alleged shooters fled on motorcycles before travelling to different locations by train and cab. They relied on Internet-based calls instead of conventional mobile networks, making it difficult for investigators to trace their communications.

A routine phone conversation between one of the accused and a cab driver reportedly provided the police with an important lead. Acting on information shared by the Mumbai Police, the three suspects were subsequently arrested from a train in Kota, Rajasthan.

So far, 10 people have been arrested in connection with the case. The three alleged shooters Phool Singh (18), Rehan Rahimuddin Ansari (18) and Hrithik Mahato (22) remain in police custody until October 31.

According to sources in the Mumbai Crime Branch, Randeep Malik, associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, reportedly connected Rehan with Anil Pandit. Another accused, Kunal, is also suspected of having come into contact with Pandit through Malik.

Investigators further suspect that individuals who conducted reconnaissance in Mumbai sent photographs of locations associated with the actor to Pandit and Malik. These reportedly included Tiger Shroff’s football ground and several locations in the Juhu and Bandra areas.

Sources said that the accused allegedly discussed testing the firearm before carrying out the attack. Hrithik reportedly suggested the forests of Aarey Colony for this purpose, as his experience working as a Rapido rider in Mumbai had made him familiar with the area.

During interrogation, the accused claimed that Tiger Shroff’s praise for actor Salman Khan at an event was among the reasons behind the decision to target him.

Sources said investigators were examining these claims. The Crime Branch has not yet established the motive conclusively.

Meanwhile, Tiger Shroff is said to have been deeply disturbed by the incident. An officer said the actor told the police during preliminary discussions that he was shocked by the firing and had never imagined that his car would be targeted.

The actor reportedly told investigators that he had no personal enmity with anyone and did not know who the attackers were or why they had opened fire.

A Crime Branch officer said the actor’s statement has not yet been formally recorded because he was distressed following the incident. The police are expected to record his statement soon as the investigation continues.

To ensure the unobstructed movement of pedestrians on footpaths, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implementing an initiative called ‘Pedestrian First’. In this regard, an enforcement drive was carried out today (October 23, 2026) in Dadar, near the ‘Late Maa Saheb Meenatai Thackeray Flower Market’ and along ‘Senapati Bapat Marg’. During this operation, 12 unauthorized structures—including temporary tarpaulin sheds and illegal platforms—were removed, and 60 hawkers obstructing the footpaths were cleared from the area. This operation was conducted by the BMC’s ‘G-North’ Ward.
Under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, the BMC is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ initiative. The objective of this initiative is to clear footpaths of unauthorized hawkers and encroachments, ensuring they remain free from any obstructions.

In this context, the aforementioned action was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone-2) Prashant Sapkale and the leadership of Assistant Commissioner (G-North Ward) Yogesh Desai. Under this initiative, 12 unauthorized structures—including temporary sheds and illegal platforms—were removed in Dadar, near the ‘Late Maa Saheb Meena Tai Thackeray Flower Market’ and along ‘Senapati Bapat Marg’. Additionally, 60 street vendors who were obstructing the footpaths were cleared from the area. Adequate police personnel were deployed on-site during the operation.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation is taking measures to ensure that footpaths remain open and accessible to pedestrians. Consequently, the Municipal Corporation administration has issued directives prohibiting any unauthorized construction on footpaths, as well as the placement of any items that might obstruct the path for pedestrians. Strict action will be taken against any such violations.

In a matter related to fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lodged an FIR seeking action against miscreants who trespassed a Thane flat that was attached earlier in connection with an extortion case registered against Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar, an officials said on Friday.

The flat was attached by the ED in 2022 during money laundering investigation in a case relating to extortion by accused Iqbal Kaskar, younger brother of underworld don Dawood, who is suspected to be in Pakistan, the official said in a statement.

The FIR was filed as a deterrent action against miscreants for trespassing the “confirmed attached properties” in the possession of the ED’s Mumbai Zonal Office-I, it said.

“The FIR was lodged on October 15 after restoring the possession of a flat in Thane (West) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002,” the ED said.

“In respect of the alleged unauthorised entry and interference with the attached property, an FIR dated October 15 has been registered at Kasarvadavali Police Station in Thane under Sections 329(4) and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, so that the matter is investigated and trespassers are punished,” the ED added.

The property was provisionally attached vide provisional attachment order dated April 8, 2022, during money laundering investigation in the extortion case against Iqbal Kaskar and others, it said.

The provisional attachment was subsequently confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under Section 8(3) of the PMLA vide order dated September 29, 2022, and possession of the flat was also taken by the ED on December 17, 2024, under Section 8(4) of the PMLA, the statement said.

The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of FIR registered at Kasarvadavali Police Station in Thane, concerning allegations of extortion against, inter alia, Iqbal Kaskar, Mumtaz Azaz Sheikh alias Raju, Israr Ali Jamil Saiyad and others.

During investigation, it was revealed that pursuant to threats and extortion, flats were demanded to be registered in favour of or at the instance of the accused persons, the ED said.

In this context, Flat No. 405 was registered in the name of Mumtaz Azaz Sheikh on May 29, the ED said.

It came to notice that some people had entered the property, broken the lock and removed the ED’s possession notice, the statement said.

The ED conducted inspections and took necessary steps to safeguard the attached property.

The matter was also placed before the Special PMLA Court, which also directed the ED to restore the possession with police assistance, if required.

In compliance and also to safeguard the property, the lock of said flat was changed in presence of police personnel and witnesses and the possession of the said flat was restored, the ED said.

A fresh notice was also affixed on the premises clearly mentioning that any aggrieved person may either approach the office of the ED or the court where the trial of the case is being conducted, it added.