New Delhi: The investigation into the shooting at Tiger Shroff’s car is now looking at a possible international link, with police examining whether people
allegedly operating from the United States were connected to those involved in the attack in Mumbai. Investigators are scrutinising the alleged links of Randeep Malik and Anil Pandit, both of whom are believed to be based in the US. A key part of the probe is to determine whether instructions were allegedly passed from abroad to people operating on the ground in India.
Authorities are also looking into another potentially significant aspect of the alleged network – whether young people hoping to move overseas were drawn in with promises of jobs, financial security or help in settling abroad and subsequently used to carry out criminal activities. However, the alleged mode of recruitment and its direct link to the Tiger Shroff shooting has not been conclusively established so far.
Were youngsters lured with promises of settling abroad?
Investigators are examining the links between Randeep Malik and Anil Pandit and how people may have been recruited. Additionally, authorities are also looking into how Anil Pandit reached the United States and his alleged association with the network thereafter.
Investigators are trying to determine whether promises of employment or a future abroad were used as an inducement and whether any of those recruited were subsequently assigned roles in criminal activities. At this stage, however, the exact nature of the alleged recruitment system and whether it played a direct role in the Tiger Shroff shooting remain under investigation.
Were instructions sent to shooters from abroad?
Another important part of the investigation is establishing how the people allegedly operating abroad communicated with those on the ground in India. Police are trying to determine who issued instructions to the shooters, who arranged logistical support and whether different individuals were assigned specific responsibilities before and after the attack.
The alleged links of Randeep Malik and Anil Pandit are being examined as part of this wider investigation. But their exact roles have not been determined and will depend on evidence gathered by investigators. The probe could help authorities determine whether the shooting was planned entirely within India or whether directions allegedly came from people operating overseas.
Internet calls and digital communication under scanner
Investigators are also examining whether internet-based calls or other online communication channels were used to keep people within the alleged network connected and to relay instructions. Call records, digital evidence and contacts linked to the accused are being examined as police attempt to reconstruct the chain of communication surrounding the shooting.
The digital trail could potentially help investigators establish where the alleged conspiracy was planned, who remained in contact with the people on the ground and how instructions reached those involved in Mumbai. However, the specific communication platforms allegedly used and the nature of the conversations, have not yet been officially established.
Police probe financial trail and local links
Apart from communications, investigators are also expected to examine the financial trail of the alleged network and its connections with local associates. Establishing how money moved between different individuals could help police understand whether funds were allegedly provided for weapons, accommodation, travel or other logistical requirements.
The larger question before investigators is whether those accused of carrying out the shooting were acting independently or were part of a more organised network that included people operating outside India. If detectives find any evidence linking people outside India directly to the gunmen in Mumbai, it could greatly expand the case.
