11 Held as Cops Probe Aamir Khan Lead in Tiger Shroff Firing

Mumbai Police are examining a chilling possibility in the October 18 Juhu firing: actor Tiger Shroff may not have been the original target. According to police reports cited by The Times of India, the alleged shooters first planned to target Aamir Khan, then changed course after struggling to get close to him.

Here is what the investigation has surfaced so far, and why the case matters beyond one evening of gunfire.

Why the suspects switched from Aamir Khan to Tiger Shroff

The alleged shooters reportedly spent nearly a month in Mumbai watching Aamir Khan’s movements, and visited the area around his home at least three times. Police sources told The Indian Express that his frequent travel for shoots and long hours at home made an approach difficult. They then noticed Tiger Shroff’s routine: he played football at a Juhu park most Sundays, which made him easier to reach. The attack on October 18 happened at that same park.

Police have also reportedly linked the alleged plan involving Aamir Khan to threats he received in July, which were attributed to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. That detail may turn the firing into part of a larger pattern rather than a one-off incident.

Handlers, encrypted apps and an escape on camera

Investigators suspect the three alleged shooters received real-time updates from handlers using encrypted VoIP messaging applications. Police reports cited by PTI say news broadcasts about the attack accidentally helped the suspects adjust their escape. When channels aired footage of the suspected attackers, one man reportedly got an urgent warning: “Tumhare chehre aa gaye hain, nikal jao waha se” — “Your faces are out, get out of there.”

Police also suspect the handlers told the men that the motorcycle used in the attack had been recovered in Andheri, and kept them informed about their train journey. Rehan Rahisuddin Ansari, one of the accused, allegedly stayed in regular contact through internet-based services such as Signal or Zangi.

Where the case stands

• 11 people held across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.
• 3 alleged shooters named: Phool Singh, 18, Rehan Rahisuddin Ansari, 18, and Rithik Mahto, 22.
• 5–6 rounds were reportedly fired at Tiger Shroff’s car; Shroff escaped relatively unharmed, while his driver and a bystander were injured.
• 2 firearms and 10 live cartridges were recovered in Surat and sent for forensic and ballistic testing.
• Wanted accused: gangster Anil Pandit, an alleged Lawrence Bishnoi associate believed to be operating from the United States, has reportedly claimed responsibility in a social media post.

The accused were arrested by Kota Police on October 19 while travelling by train, after an alert from Mumbai Police. They allegedly switched between a motorcycle, a train, a cab and a planned bus from Surat before a delay forced them onto another train. Later, Mumbai Crime Branch and local police also held 22-year-old Pranjal Thakran in Indore; police suspect he provided financial, logistical or operational help. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.

Why this matters for fans and the industry

For years, star security conversations have focused on crowds, stalker fans and paparazzi. This investigation adds a more organised layer: alleged handlers coaching suspects through encrypted calls and using live news coverage to dodge arrest. It is a reminder that a public routine — a Sunday football game, a walk from a building — can become a vulnerability even when the star himself is not the eventual target.

The switch from Aamir Khan to Tiger Shroff also shows the problem is not always about a single grudge. If the police account is proven, the suspects were looking for an accessible target, not a specific person alone. That raises hard questions about how production houses, residential societies and private security teams share movement details, and how quickly they can adjust when a threat shifts.

Source: The Times of India