Bishnoi Gang’s Expanding Reach: Delhi Police Link 18-Year-Old Tiger Shroff Shooting Suspect to US-Based Operative Anil Pandit

NEW DELHI — As the investigation into the recent firing incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff intensifies, authorities have zeroed in on Anil Pandit, an alleged gangster and operative linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate.

Preliminary questioning by the Delhi Police has revealed that one of the suspected shooters, an 18-year-old named Rehan, was in direct communication with Pandit prior to the attack.

The shooting incident, which occurred outside a prominent location in Mumbai, prompted a swift multi-state police response.

Investigators successfully intercepted and arrested three suspects—identified as Rehan (18), a 17-year-old minor, and Hrithik Kumar alias Roshan—while they were attempting to flee on a Pune-Jaipur train.

Initial investigations indicate that the suspects were hired to carry out the attack, with the operational blueprint allegedly orchestrated by Pandit.

Pandit, who is reportedly based in the United States, has emerged as a key figure in a string of recent high-profile intimidation campaigns.

Following the Tiger Shroff incident, a purported audio recording attributed to Pandit surfaced online, in which the speaker threatens to "make Salman Khan’s life hell" unless the actor publicly apologises to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi for the historic blackbuck hunting case.

In the chilling message, the individual claiming to be Pandit boasts of having a vast network of shooters and vows to target those close to the actor if his demands are not met.

Law enforcement agencies note that this modus operandi aligns with the broader strategy of the Bishnoi gang, which has increasingly relied on social media and audio messages to project power and instill fear.

By leveraging young, impressionable recruits like Rehan, the syndicate allegedly maintains a layer of deniability while executing complex, inter-state criminal operations.

The involvement of a US-based handler further underscores the transnational nature of the threat, complicating the investigative and diplomatic efforts required to dismantle the network.

Security analysts warn that the brazenness of these attacks highlights a critical vulnerability in celebrity protection protocols.

The fact that armed suspects could plan and execute a firing in a major metropolitan area, and then attempt a coordinated escape across state lines, points to significant logistical support and intelligence gathering by the gang.

As the Delhi Police and Rajasthan’s Kota Police continue to interrogate the arrested suspects, the focus remains on tracing the financial and digital footprints connecting Rehan to Anil Pandit.

The outcome of this investigation will not only determine the immediate legal consequences for the shooters but also shape the national strategy for combating organised, celebrity-targeted syndicate violence in India.