Mumbai Police are now examining the driver records of bike-taxi platform Rapido as part of the investigation into the firing near actor Tiger Shroff’s residence in Mumbai on October 18. One of the suspects,
Hrithik Kumar, was reportedly registered on the platform as a “captain”, prompting investigators to check whether he was actively working for the service and whether the company followed the required verification procedures.
The records could also help establish whether Kumar’s activity on the app supports or contradicts the account of his movements and alleged role in the case.
What Police Want To Verify
Maharashtra’s Transport Department has issued a notice to Rapido seeking Kumar’s credentials, details of the vehicle linked to him and other relevant documents.
Investigators are checking his onboarding records, police-verification status and activity history. They also want to establish whether he was operating as a driver when the incident took place.
As per reports, Rapido has said Kumar had not been active as a captain since October 14 and had used the platform only as a customer on the day of the firing.
Police are examining documentary evidence to verify the company’s statement and determine whether Kumar had any operational connection with the service during the alleged reconnaissance or shooting.
Rapido has said it is cooperating with the authorities and has submitted supporting details and evidence. The company has also pointed out that registering with multiple gig platforms is common in India, cautioning against treating Kumar’s previous registration as proof of its operational involvement in the crime.
Why The Probe Has A Regulatory Angle
The investigation has also drawn attention to the rules governing bike-taxi aggregators in Maharashtra. The state’s transport minister has alleged that some platforms may be violating regulations and failing to screen drivers adequately.
Under the Maharashtra Bike-Taxi Rules, 2025, aggregators must carry out mandatory police verification and ensure that drivers meet good-character requirements. These include having no criminal record in the preceding seven years.
The examination of Rapido’s records could help investigators determine whether the platform followed these requirements.
The driver’s status, background checks and vehicle documents are key areas of the inquiry. The findings could also influence how bike-taxi services are monitored in Maharashtra.
What Happened In The Tiger Shroff Firing Case?
Tiger Shroff escaped unhurt when unidentified gunmen opened fire at his car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on the evening of October 18. His driver and a bystander were injured and taken to hospital. Police are treating the incident as an attempted murder and an Arms Act case.
Shroff was leaving a football ground near Pushpa Narsee Park at around 7 pm when the attackers allegedly fired five to six rounds at his vehicle before fleeing on a motorcycle.
Mumbai Police formed 15 teams, including Crime Branch personnel, and made several arrests. Three alleged shooters — Phool Singh, 18, Rehan Rahisuddin Ansari, 18, and Rithik Mahto, 22 — were arrested in Rajasthan and remanded to police custody until October 31.
By October 24, police said 10 people had been apprehended across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The Crime Branch also recovered two firearms and 10 live cartridges from Surat, Gujarat. These are undergoing forensic and ballistic tests against shell casings recovered from the scene.
Alleged Gang Link And Escape Plan
Police told a Mumbai court that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang allegedly carried out the attack for financial gain, to assert dominance and to spread terror.
One arrested accused reportedly told investigators that Shroff was targeted because he had earlier publicly praised Salman Khan. This remains a police allegation and has not been established by a court.
Investigators also allege that the shooters planned to travel from Surat to Delhi by bus before crossing into Nepal, but missed their bus. They were then allegedly guided by handlers through VoIP calls and messages. Police have said the handlers also followed television news coverage to track the manhunt.
