Suspects’ Escape Plan Collapsed After Missing Bus

Three men accused of carrying out a shooting attack on actor Tiger Shroff allegedly planned to escape from Gujarat to Delhi by bus before crossing into Nepal. Their plan fell apart when they reached the bus stand in Surat too late to board their intended bus, according to sources cited by NDTV.

The failed escape attempt forced the suspects to change their route. Investigators say an alleged mastermind linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang subsequently issued fresh instructions, setting the accused on a different journey that ultimately ended with their arrest in Rajasthan.

The case has drawn attention to the alleged network behind the attack, the suspects’ movements across state borders and the investigation that led police to track them down.

How the Accused Changed Their Escape Route

The three main accused have been identified as Hritik Kumar, alias Roshan, 22, from Bihar, and Rehan and Phool Singh, both 18, from Haryana. According to the investigation details reported by NDTV, they initially intended to travel from Surat to Delhi and then enter Nepal.

After missing their bus, they allegedly received revised instructions from Anil Pandit, described by investigators as the alleged mastermind and a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Pandit has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The instructions were allegedly relayed through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls with the help of another arrested accused, Ankit Khatak.

The three men then reportedly travelled by auto-rickshaw to Surat railway station and boarded the Pune-Jaipur Express at approximately 1:33 a.m.

Investigators believe they also concealed the two firearms allegedly used in the shooting, along with ammunition, in an open area near the Surat bus stand before boarding the train. They reportedly feared that carrying the weapons during the journey could expose them to police checks.

Their revised plan involved getting off the train before it reached Jaipur's main railway station, arranging road transport and continuing towards Delhi. From there, they allegedly intended to cross into Nepal.

The route change did not prevent investigators from tracing them.

CCTV Tracking Led Police to Kota

The Mumbai Crime Branch reportedly reconstructed the suspects’ movements using CCTV footage from the Surat bus stand and railway station. The three accused were arrested in Kota, Rajasthan, on October 19, one day after the shooting.

The arrests marked a significant development in the investigation, which has focused on identifying the people involved in the attack and establishing the alleged connections between the shooters and those who may have directed them.

Police have also investigated the weapons used in the incident. According to the reported case updates, the firearms were subsequently recovered, and another suspect was arrested, taking the total number of arrests to 11.

The allegations concerning the escape route, communications and gang connections remain part of the investigation. The accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.

What Happened During the Attack on Tiger Shroff?

The shooting took place around 7 p.m. on October 18, when Tiger Shroff, the son of actor Jackie Shroff, was returning after playing football.

The 36-year-old actor was sitting in the front passenger seat of his BMW when the vehicle came under fire. He escaped without injuries, but his driver and a bystander were hurt.

Video footage reportedly showed two men firing at least five to six rounds at the BMW. After the shooting, Shroff was seen taking control of the vehicle and driving his injured driver to the hospital.

The two alleged shooters, identified as Phool Singh and Rehan, reportedly fled on a motorcycle and joined Hritik Kumar. Investigators later found a motorcycle believed to have been used in the escape abandoned in Mumbai's Andheri area.

The incident raised questions about the security of high-profile individuals and the ability of criminal networks to organise attacks and coordinate escape attempts across state boundaries.

Investigation Continues as Arrests Reach 11

The alleged escape plan reveals how the suspects reportedly attempted to move between transport networks after the shooting. Missing a bus forced them to change course, while CCTV footage helped investigators follow their movements.

With 11 people arrested so far, the investigation has expanded beyond the two men seen firing at the actor's vehicle to include alleged accomplices and individuals suspected of helping coordinate the operation.

The central questions now concern the precise roles of those arrested, the alleged chain of instructions behind the attack and the evidence linking each suspect to the shooting.

For investigators, tracing the suspects to Kota was a key breakthrough. Establishing who planned, financed or directed the attack will be essential to building the case in court.