18 October,2026 10:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Actor Tiger Shroff and CM Devendra Fadnavis. FILE PIC
Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday spoke to Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff after gunmen opened fire at the actor's car in Mumbai's Juhu area. Fadnavis also spoke to Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, sought details of the incident and directed him to expedite the investigation and arrest those responsible.
According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Fadnavis instructed the police to track down the assailants quickly and take strict action against them.
Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, subsequently spoke to Shroff over the phone and assured him of the government's support.
"We are all with you. We will track down the accused soon. Do not worry," Fadnavis told the actor, according to the CMO.
The firing incident triggered criticism from Opposition leaders, who alleged that law and order had deteriorated in Mumbai and across Maharashtra.
Congress leader Sachin Sawant, in a post on X, said Mumbai appeared to be in the grip of chaos and accused Fadnavis of failing to maintain law and order in the state.
Referring to the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, the firing outside actor Salman Khan's residence and threats allegedly issued to actors and film producers, Sawant questioned the government's efforts to rein in anti-social elements.
He said the situation had reached a point where people who had earlier compared Maharashtra with Bihar were now claiming that even Bihar was better.
Mumbai Congress President and Lok Sabha member Varsha Gaikwad also criticised the state government and reiterated the Congress's demand for a separate Home Minister for Maharashtra.
In a video statement, Gaikwad questioned the state of law and order and whether the police continued to command the same authority and respect.
"Does Mumbai have law and order? Does the police still command the same authority and respect as before? Are criminals afraid of the police?" she asked.
Questioning the safety of citizens, Gaikwad said, "If actors and political leaders are not safe, what can we say about the safety of ordinary citizens?"
She blamed Fadnavis for the situation and said the Congress had consistently demanded that the Home portfolio be handed to a separate minister.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar expressed concern over the firing incident, pointing out that it came days after the killing of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar in Thane.
Pawar described the firing involving Shroff's car as alarming, even though the actor escaped without injuries.
He also referred to the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty's residence in Juhu and warned that such incidents in Mumbai, the country's financial capital, could undermine investor confidence.
Pawar said the Home portfolio should be handed over to a "competent minister" if the situation had become difficult to handle.
According to the police, Shroff escaped unhurt after gunmen opened fire at his car in Mumbai's Juhu area on Sunday evening. The actor's driver and an autorickshaw driver sustained injuries in the incident.
The firing took place near Pushpa Park, within the jurisdiction of Juhu police station, an official said. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and working to identify those responsible.
The incident has renewed political debate over public safety and law enforcement in Mumbai, with Opposition leaders demanding accountability from the state government.
(With PTI inputs)
