'Tumhare Chehre Aa Gaye Hain...': Handlers Sent Urgent Text To Tiger Shroff Shooters After Seeing Faces On TV

News india 'Tumhare Chehre Aa Gaye Hain...': Handlers Sent Urgent Text To Tiger Shroff Shooters After Seeing Faces On TV

Last Updated:October 26, 2026, 07:54 IST

Shooters accused in the Tiger Shroff firing allegedly received the message “Your faces are out, get out of there” as handlers relayed police updates through encrypted apps.

The accused in the October 18 firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff allegedly received an urgent warning from their handlers to flee after news channels broadcast visuals of the attack, police sources said, according to news agency PTI.

“Tumhare chehre aa gaye hain, nikal jao waha se" (Your faces are out, get out of there), was the message one of the primary suspects allegedly received on his mobile phone as the media aired footage of the shooting, sources in the Mumbai Crime Branch said.

The three men accused of carrying out the attack were allegedly receiving real-time updates about the police investigation from their handlers through encrypted internet-based messaging applications.

According to the sources, the information prompted them to repeatedly change their escape routes to evade the police.

The three key accused, Phool Singh (18), Rehan Rahisuddin Ansari (18) and Ritik Mahto (22), were apprehended by the Kota Police in Rajasthan on October 19 while travelling on a train. They are currently in police custody until October 31.

Digital evidence indicated that Rehan was in constant communication through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications, including platforms such as Signal or Zangi, which can be used without registering through a mobile number, the sources said.

The handlers allegedly relayed media reports about the recovery of the motorcycle used in the attack in Andheri, as well as information about the accused persons’ subsequent train journey.

SHOOTERS ALLEGEDLY CHANGED TRANSPORT MODES DURING ESCAPE

The handlers’ alleged updates prompted the trio to repeatedly change their mode of transport while attempting to evade the police, according to the sources.

“The constant feed prompted the trio to frequently shift modes of transport, moving from a motorcycle to a train, followed by a cab, before planning to board a bus from Surat," the sources said, as quoted by PTI.

However, a delay at the Surat bus terminal eventually led the accused to board another train. They were apprehended by the Kota Police following an alert from the Mumbai Police.

The three men had allegedly fled after at least two shooters opened fire at Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on the evening of October 18. The actor escaped relatively unhurt, while his driver and a bystander sustained injuries.

According to Mumbai Police, five to six rounds were fired at the car before the attackers sped away on a motorcycle, which was later found abandoned in Andheri.

11 ARRESTED SO FAR; FIREARMS RECOVERED IN SURAT

In a separate development, Mumbai Police arrested 22-year-old Pranjal Thakran in Indore on October 24 in connection with the case, taking the total number of arrests to 11.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotia said a Mumbai Crime Branch team, with assistance from local police, apprehended Thakran, who is originally from Sonipat in Haryana. He had travelled to Indore five days earlier for the treatment of his paralysed brother.

Police suspect that Thakran provided logistical support and financial or operational assistance to the shooters and key conspirators.

A Mumbai Police official said he was being interrogated and that formalities to bring him to Mumbai on transit remand were underway.

Meanwhile, police recovered two firearms and ten live cartridges during targeted raids at a hideout in Surat on Friday, October 23, an official said.

The weapons and ammunition have been sent for forensic examination and ballistic testing to determine whether they match the empty shell casings recovered from the crime scene.

GANGSTER ANIL PANDIT NAMED AS WANTED ACCUSED

The Mumbai Crime Branch is continuing its investigation into the procurement of the firearms and the network allegedly responsible for supplying weapons and providing logistical support to the shooters.

Mumbai Police have named gangster Anil Pandit as a wanted accused in the case.

Pandit had claimed responsibility for the October 18 firing in a social media post and is alleged to be an associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which police sources believe is operating from the United States.

The Mumbai Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act, including provisions relating to attempt to murder and other offences. The investigation is continuing to establish the roles of the accused and identify others allegedly involved in the attack.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Read More