Accused in Salman Khan House Firing Case Dies in Custody; Family Claims Foul Play
Anuj Thapan, a resident of Punjab, was allegedly involved in supplying weapons to the shooters. Who are responsible for firing shots outside actor Salman Khan’s Bandra home on April 14. However, his recent custodial death has brought embarrassment to the Mumbai Police. Prompting an investigation by the Crime Investigation Department (CID).
Thapan was arrested just a week ago and was being held in a lock-up at the crime branch near the Mumbai Police headquarters. According to police, Thapan and five others were in the lock-up on the morning of his death. Around 11 am, he went to the toilet and did not return for a considerable time, prompting the police to break open the door. They found him hanging by a bedsheet, and despite efforts to save him, he died at a hospital during treatment.
In response, a case of accidental death has been registered, and the CID will investigate potential negligence by the police officers on duty near the lock-up. A senior officer noted that five officers were on duty at the time, with CCTV cameras monitoring the area. The police plan to examine the footage to determine the sequence of events. An autopsy will be conducted at JJ Hospital to further assess the cause of death.
Accused in Salman Khan House Firing Case Dies in Custody; Family Claims Foul Play
Some sources indicated that Thapan was anxious about his case and worried he wouldn’t get bail. He was arrested alongside Sonu Kumar Bishnoi from Punjab’s Fazilka on April 26, and they were believed to have supplied weapons to Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, the alleged shooters in the attack on Salman Khan’s residence.
Thapan’s family, however, suspects foul play. His brother, Abhishek, told the media, “We received a call today and were told that Anuj has died by suicide. He wasn’t the type to commit suicide. We believe he was murdered and seek justice.” Similarly, his lawyers have raised concerns about the circumstances of his death, questioning the safety of the accused in police custody. “All four accused had previously informed the court about their safety concerns. Within 48 hours, one of them is dead, raising serious questions about the police’s conduct,” said lawyer Amit Mishra.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi are among the accused in the firing case. Anmol Bishnoi had previously claimed responsibility for the incident at Salman Khan’s home. The police have filed charges under the Indian Penal Code and the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against the accused.
