According to senior Mumbai Police Crime Branch officials, the hit squad conducted physical surveillance around Salman Khan’s Bandra residence, Galaxy Apartments. However, finding the fortress-like Y-plus armed security cordon and static police pickets impossible to breach, overseas handlers instructed the shooters to abort that plan and pivot to an "easy second choice" to instill fear across the film fraternity—ultimately leading them to the unescorted Tiger Shroff.
The Galaxy Apartments Recce & Security Wall
During interrogation following their transit remand from Kota, Rajasthan, the arrested shooters—identified as Phool Singh (18), Rehan Ansari (18), and Hrithik Kumar alias Roshan Ramu Mahto (22)—detailed how the operation unfolded:
Surveillance at Bandra: The shooters confessed that upon arriving in Mumbai, their primary assignment was to track Salman Khan’s transit routes and monitor Galaxy Apartments.
The Impasse: The team quickly determined that conducting a drive-by hit or close-range shooting was virtually impossible. Salman Khan remains shielded under round-the-clock Y-plus security, bulletproof vehicles, armed commandos, and static Mumbai Police outposts, which would have led to an immediate armed counter-response.
Broader Radar: Investigators noted the accused also claimed to have looked at movements around Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan, but heavy security barriers and unpredictable travel schedules quickly ruled them out.
Handler Anil Pandit’s Order: "Target Anyone Accessible"
With the primary hit stalled, the shooters contacted their overseas handlers, including Canada/US-based Bishnoi operative Anil Pandit:
The Mandate to Strike: The handlers refused to let the shooters leave Mumbai empty-handed, insisting that a public shooting targeting a mainstream Bollywood actor was necessary to demonstrate the gang’s reach.
Exploiting Social Media Footprints: The shooters tracked Tiger Shroff’s weekend routine through paparazzi posts and fan accounts. They established that Shroff regularly played evening football at Pushpa Narsee Ground in Juhu and moved without personal security guards or police vehicles.
The Tactical Shift: Viewing the open Juhu sports ground as a soft target with quick escape routes toward suburban railway corridors, the handlers greenlit the ambush on Shroff's BMW SUV on Sunday evening.
Security Take:
The Crime Branch's findings reveal an alarming operational shift within syndicated extortion networks. When hardened, high-value targets prove impenetrable due to state-provided security rings, terror syndicates are willing to pivot opportunistically to younger, unescorted stars simply to manufacture headlines and claim underworld dominance. With three key shooters in custody and weapons handlers identified, police are focusing on severing the local sleeper cells providing reconnaissance and firearms to these young recruits.
