Mumbai Police Uncover Global Cryptocurrency Link in Tiger Shroff Attack Case
Mumbai: The investigation into the brazen October 18 shooting targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff has taken a sophisticated turn. Mumbai Police have revealed that an overseas-based cryptocurrency network was allegedly funneled through local bank accounts to finance the attackers, marking a significant escalation in the probe into organized crime syndicates.
The Arrest of Suneha Pandit
On Tuesday, Special Judge S R Navander remanded Suneha Pandit, the 13th suspect arrested in the case, to police custody until November 16. Pandit, who was apprehended in Karnal, Haryana, is the sister-in-law of Anil Pandit, a key leader of an organized crime syndicate and a primary accused in the attack.
The prosecution argued that Suneha’s role is critical to understanding the financial pipeline used to execute the hit. According to police records, a State Bank of India (SBI) account registered under the name of Abhishek—Anil Pandit’s brother—was directly linked to Suneha’s phone number. Authorities allege this account acted as a clearinghouse for funds used to orchestrate the logistical side of the attack, including the purchase of a motorcycle and payments for lodging used by the assailants.
Sophisticated Financial Trail
Special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves detailed a complex money trail in court, revealing that the syndicate utilized digital obfuscation to evade law enforcement. Investigators found that Abhishek allegedly operated a cryptocurrency wallet tethered to a Cambodian phone number. To mask his digital footprint and physical location, he reportedly utilized a Virtual Private Network (VPN) based in Denmark.
The investigation suggests that the funds in this crypto-wallet were generated through extortion and then converted into fiat currency. This money was subsequently transferred to the SBI bank account, which facilitated payments to other arrested suspects via UPI IDs and QR code scans.
Financial forensics have uncovered that the account saw a staggering turnover of over ₹47.26 lakh between August 2022 and October 2026. “Transactions are visible from this account to other arrested accused, including on the very day of the incident,” Gonsalves stated, emphasizing that Suneha, despite claiming to be a homemaker with no independent income, was fully aware of the account’s illicit purpose.
Defense Arguments
Representing the accused, lawyer Ajinkya Mirgal refuted the allegations, characterizing the account as a shared family resource rather than a dedicated criminal fund. He argued that the prosecution’s narrative is inconsistent, noting that police had previously suggested the account was operated by individuals overseas. Mirgal claimed that Suneha is being targeted solely to force a confession, asserting that she could not have been the primary operator of an account managed from abroad.
Context of the Attack
The incident occurred on October 18, when two gunmen opened fire on Tiger Shroff’s vehicle. The actor narrowly escaped with minor injuries caused by shattered glass, while his driver and a vlogger recording the scene sustained bullet injuries. The police are now focusing their interrogation on Suneha to track down the locations of the brothers, Abhishek and Anil, who remain at large.
The other 12 individuals arrested in connection with the shooting remain in police custody as the investigation continues to unfold.
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