Tiger Shroff firing case: Accused claims to be minor, court orders age verification within 15 days

Mumbai Police take three accused from Esplanade Court after being remanded to police custody until October 31 in connection with the actor Tiger Shroff firing case, in Mumbai. File. | Photo Credit: ANI A special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court on Friday (November, 6, 2026) ordered an inquiry into the age of Phool Singh, an alleged shooter arrested in connection with the firing at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car, after he claimed to have been a minor at the time of the incident. The court directed the police to verify his age and submit a report within 15 days.Mr. Singh was among 12 accused produced before Special Judge S. Navandar at the end of their police remand. The court extended the police custody of Mr. Singh and four other accused until November 11, while the remaining seven were remanded to judicial custody.During the hearing, Mr. Singh claimed that he had previously been denied access to his lawyer and was therefore unable to inform the court about his age. His lawyers, Sidhanth Mor and Divyam Gaur, reportedly submitted a birth certificate issued in Haryana and his Aadhaar card to support his claim that he was approximately 17 years and 10 months old when the incident occurred.The court questioned why Mr. Singh or his lawyer had not raised the issue during three earlier remand proceedings. It also declined the defence’s request to send him to a juvenile home pending verification of his age, observing that the claim could have been raised to avoid custodial interrogation.The court subsequently directed the authorities to investigate Mr. Singh’s claim and submit an age-verification report within 15 days. If he is found to have been below 18 at the time of the alleged offence, the proceedings against him would have to be considered under the applicable provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.Meanwhile, the 13th accused, Suneha Pandit, who was arrested in Karnal, Haryana, on November 3, 2026, remains in police custody until November 16 under a separate remand order. Ms. Pandit is the sister-in-law of wanted accused Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Investigators have alleged that she was involved in financial transactions linked to the conspiracy.The case pertains to the firing at Mr. Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on the evening of October 18, 2026. According to the police, two shooters allegedly fired five rounds at the vehicle as the actor was leaving a football ground. While Shroff escaped without serious injury, his driver and a bystander, identified as a vlogger, sustained bullet injuries.The Mumbai Crime Branch registered the case on October 19 under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. Provisions of MCOCA were subsequently invoked on October 27 after approval from the competent authority, as investigators examined the alleged organised crime conspiracy and suspected links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Published - November 07, 2026 02:08 am IST