The Mumbai Crime Branch has been given until November 16 to question five accused in the Tiger Shroff firing case. A special MCOCA court extended their police custody on Wednesday, after police argued that they needed to confront the accused with a newly arrested suspect. In all, 13 people have now been arrested.
Suneha Pandit is the sister-in-law of Anil Pandit, the gangster who claimed responsibility for the October 18 firing. IANS reports she was arrested in Haryana’s Karnal district, and she is the wife of Abhishek Pandit, who allegedly operates a cryptocurrency account and handles payments for the group’s operations. According to police, the accused were assigned codes through which money was allegedly transferred. Police told the court Suneha was aware of the transactions. The source text gives her arrest date as November 1; I could not confirm it.
The Defence View
Her lawyer, Ajinkya Mirgal, opposed police custody, saying she is innocent and has no connection with the firing or any conspiracy. A court remanded her to police custody until November 16 on Tuesday. These are allegations by the police, and the accused have not been convicted.
The Age Question
Phool Singh, described by police as the main attacker, has filed an application claiming he is a minor. The court earlier ordered the police to verify his age. Free Press Journal reports that a police team has gone to Haryana and that the verification report will go to the court on November 18, while the source text says 15 days. The court denied immediate relief to shift him to a juvenile facility. If he is found to be a juvenile, the case would move through juvenile law, which restricts publishing a child’s identity. Media should be careful about using his name until the question is settled.
Custody Status
Earlier remand orders had placed several accused in police custody until November 11, with the remaining seven in judicial custody. This hearing extended five accused to November 16. The source text refers to accused by number, which I could not match to names.
An Unverified Advisory
The source text says Mumbai Police advised actors to avoid crowded places and meeting fans, citing security concerns and reports of surveillance outside celebrities’ homes. I could not find this in my search, so verify it before publishing.
The Incident
The firing happened on October 18 in Juhu, with attackers on a motorcycle firing at Shroff’s car. Shroff was not hit by bullets, while his driver and a bystander were injured. The Bishnoi gang’s claim of responsibility, made through social media posts, has not been independently verified.
Why It Matters
The case has moved from the shooters to the alleged financial network, using MCOCA’s longer custody and evidence rules. The juvenile question could alter how one central accused is tried.
What Comes Next
The next key dates are November 16 for custody and November 18 for the age report. Bolly Orbit will update this report as developments emerge.
