New Delhi: The investigation into the firing involving actor has widened, with arresting two more accused, one identified as Ankit, from Haryana. The latest arrest comes as investigators continue to piece together an alleged arms-supply network involving encrypted conversations, a secret weapons pick-up in Amritsar and payments reportedly running into thousands of rupees.

Both the accused were arrested in Haryana in a joint operation by Mumbai Police and local police. They were subsequently produced before the Gohana Court, where Mumbai Police secured his transit remand to take him to Mumbai for further questioning.

One more held in Tiger Shroff firing case

According to sources, both the accused were allegedly in contact with Anil Pandit, who has been linked by investigators to the His arrest adds another name to the growing list of people being investigated in connection with the October 18 firing.

Mumbai Police said in the statement, “In the case involving the firing incident linked to Tiger Shroff, the Mumbai Police have arrested two more individuals from Haryana; a total of 10 suspects have been arrested in this matter so far.”

Now investigators are expected to question them about his alleged contact with Anil Pandit and to find out what role, if any, they played in the events leading up to the shooting. The investigation has increasingly focused on how the weapons allegedly used in the attack were procured and transported to Mumbai.

A clandestine weapons collection in Amritsar, conversations over an encrypted messaging application and alleged payments of between Rs 70,000 and Rs 80,000 are among the leads being examined by investigators.

Rs 70,000-80,000 payment under investigation

The money trail has also emerged as an important part of the probe. Investigators are examining an alleged payment of around Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 from Pandit to those involved in arranging the collection and movement of the firearms. Of this amount, around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 was allegedly paid to Radha and Babita, the two women accused of carrying a pistol and ammunition to Mumbai.

According to investigators, Kunal had met Radha around two months before the shooting and developed a relationship with her. Radha and Babita reportedly worked at a factory in Sonipat. Kunal allegedly persuaded Radha to transport the weapon, with Babita accompanying her on the journey.

The women are suspected of travelling by train from Delhi to Mumbai with the pistol and ammunition concealed inside a bag. After reaching Mumbai, the consignment was allegedly collected by another intermediary.

How were the weapons collected in Amritsar?

According to sources, suspects Kunal and Sumit travelled to Amritsar around two weeks before the October 18 firing to collect firearms from a predetermined location.

Investigators suspect the exchange was carried out using a method sometimes referred to as a “dead letter box”. Under such an arrangement, an item is left at an agreed location and later collected by another person, meaning the two sides do not have to meet. Kunal and Sumit allegedly collected the weapons without coming face-to-face with the person who had left them there.

The instructions allegedly came from Anil Pandit, who investigators believe was communicating with Kunal through an encrypted messaging application.

Police sources have said that Kunal was released from a Sonipat jail in July. After his release, an acquaintance allegedly connected him with Pandit. Investigators are examining whether that contact eventually led to Kunal being tasked with collecting the weapons. Reports have previously indicated that a pistol and around 20 rounds of ammunition were collected from Amritsar.

Was Tiger Shroff the original target?

Another key question being investigated is whether Tiger Shroff was the first celebrity the attackers planned to target.

According to investigators, the accused had allegedly considered attacking Salman Khan but abandoned the plan after assessing the security around him. They also recceed the houses of Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar.  They then allegedly shifted their attention to Shroff, believing he would be easier to approach.

The firing took place in Juhu on October 18 when armed assailants allegedly opened fire at Shroff’s vehicle near a football venue. The actor escaped unhurt, while his driver and another person were injured.

Multiple arrests made in Tiger Shroff firing case

Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested Kunal, Sumit, Radha and Babita on October 20 in connection with the alleged weapons-supply operation. They were later handed over for further investigation in Mumbai after transit-remand proceedings. Separately, three alleged shooters were apprehended in Kota, Rajasthan, while allegedly attempting to flee. They were subsequently brought to Mumbai for questioning.

Following their arrival, the accused underwent a medical examination before being taken to the Anti-Extortion Cell office. The accused were also produced before court.

Police probe original arms supplier

One of the biggest unanswered questions remains the identity of the person who allegedly supplied the weapons in Amritsar. Because the firearms were reportedly collected from a predetermined location without a face-to-face meeting, investigators will have to trace the chain through digital communication, financial transactions and the movements of the accused.

Meanwhile, Tiger Shroff’s management team has warned against fabricated statements, AI-generated videos and other unauthorised material being circulated in the actor’s name.