Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Oct 19: Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat on Monday said Bollywood actors are being deliberately targeted for publicity and to spread fear, and asserted the state government would not allow such efforts to succeed, after unidentified assailants fired at actor Tiger Shroff's vehicle in Mumbai.
Incident and immediate response
Unidentified gunmen opened fire at Shroff's car in Mumbai's Juhu area on Sunday evening. The actor escaped unhurt, while his driver and another person suffered injuries, according to the report. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the scene and met the actor, the minister said.
“Strict action will be taken in this case. Efforts are going on to spread terror. Actors from Bollywood are being targeted for publicity. But the government will not let this happen. The government will uproot all such efforts,”
Shirsat spoke at a press conference in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, stressing the seriousness with which the state government was treating the case. He said the administration would ensure a robust response to such incidents.
Political context and internal dissent
The minister used the occasion to refer to past law-and-order campaigns, recalling that during the Shiv Sena–BJP government between 1995 and 1999, when BJP leader Gopinath Munde was home minister, police operations had inflicted significant damage on criminal gangs, prompting many suspects to flee the country, Shirsat said.
Shirsat also hit out at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut for criticising Deputy Chief Minister Shinde for not meeting the family of slain Thane leader Pradeep Purnekar. The minister called Raut's remarks baseless and defended the actions of party colleagues, saying that had Shinde gone, opposition leaders would have accused him of applying pressure on the bereaved family. He pointed out that Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik visited the Purnekar house on Saturday and pledged the ruling party's support in securing justice.
Shirsat added that no member of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had met the Purnekar family for over a fortnight after the September 29 murder, reiterating the party's stance through Sarnaik's visit.
Other party issues raised
The minister also addressed intra-party communication around the upcoming legislative council polls. He said the message to support Satish Chavan, the Mahayuti's official candidate, might not have reached party colleague and former minister Abdul Sattar properly. Shirsat noted the party had had issues with Sattar earlier but emphasised that the official directive was to back Chavan, following Shinde's instruction.
- What happened: Gunfire at Tiger Shroff's car in Juhu; actor uninjured; driver and another person hurt.
- Government action: Deputy CM Eknath Shinde visited the spot and met the actor; state minister promised strict action.
- Political fallout: Tensions within Shiv Sena over responses to a separate killing and questions about internal message circulation for council polls.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident | Firing at Tiger Shroff's car, Juhu, Mumbai (Sunday evening) |
| Casualties | Actor unhurt; driver and one other injured |
| Official response | Deputy CM visited scene; minister promised strict action |
The episode deepens concerns about the safety of high-profile film personalities in Maharashtra, and comes amid sharper political exchanges within the Shiv Sena and allied parties. The minister's remarks framed the attack as part of a pattern of attempts to exploit celebrities for publicity and to instil terror, signalling a firm law-and-order stance from the state government.
Investigations into the Juhu shooting are underway, and authorities have not publicly released details about suspects or the motive beyond the statements summarised at the press conference.
