A Mumbai Police team traveling to transport two men and a minor apprehended in connection with the shooting at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff's car returned to Kota late Monday night following security apprehensions about nighttime travel. The team was scheduled to continue the roughly 900-kilometer journey back to Mumbai on Tuesday.
While official Mumbai Police channels did not confirm the exact cause, individuals familiar with the situation pointed to a combination of physical exhaustion and safety concerns for the pause. Kota police superintendent Tejaswini Gautam stated that the visiting officers initially departed with the suspects before choosing to turn back.
Gautam noted that the decision rested entirely with the Mumbai team, adding that local authorities provided secure accommodations at a local police station. Following the overnight stop, the officers and suspects were expected to resume transit shortly.
The transit operation began Monday after the suspects completed medical evaluations and authorities obtained transit remand. The individuals were subsequently housed under heavy guard at the Railway Colony police station in Kota.
The Mumbai Police contingent had driven from Mumbai earlier on Monday, leaving the team fatigued before the detour. The three suspects were successfully intercepted and detained aboard the Pune-Jaipur Express at the Kota railway station on Monday, following a shooting incident targeting Shroff's vehicle in the Juhu area of Mumbai.
Gautam explained that Kota police acted on intelligence and technical surveillance indicating the suspects intended to escape through Rajasthan. A dedicated unit overseen by the additional superintendent of police and circle officers utilized physical descriptions and electronic tracking to intercept them at the terminal.
Authorities identified the two adult suspects as 18-year-old Rehan, also known as Sukka, from Sonipat, Haryana, and 22-year-old Hrithik Kurmi, alias Roshan Fighter, a native of Begusarai, Bihar, residing in Andheri West, Mumbai. A juvenile was also taken into custody.
Investigators believe the suspects were plotting an escape abroad via Rajasthan. Police continue to probe the specific involvement of each individual in the shooting incident.