An accused associated with the Salman Khan firing case has reportedly died by suicide while in custody of the Mumbai Police.
Anuj Thapan, aged 32, was discovered lifeless in the police lock-up at the Mumbai Police headquarters, later pronounced dead at GT Hospital, as per reports from Indian media. The incident, occurring around 11 am, saw Thapan allegedly taking his own life in the lock-up’s bathroom.
Sources within the police department indicate that Thapan was among 10 other individuals in the cell while two other accused were recording statements. The motive behind the suicide remains uncertain.
Thapan had been apprehended by the Mumbai Crime Branch last week in Punjab for his alleged role in procuring firearms related to the firing incident outside Salman Khan’s residence on April 14. Alongside Thapan, three others have been arrested, including Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, suspected to have been on the motorbike from which the shots were fired. The third accused, Sonu Bishnoi, is presently in judicial custody due to health concerns.
This unfortunate incident has raised significant concerns regarding security protocols and the efficacy of police investigations. The Mumbai police have been actively pursuing the case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) due to suspected ties with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. As inquiries continue, there are mounting questions regarding the circumstances surrounding Thapan’s suicide and the preventive measures within police custody.
An accidental death report has been filed, adding layers of complexity to the case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The investigation has now zeroed in on GT Hospital, where Thapan was taken, as a critical focal point in the probe into this tragic incident within Mumbai’s police custody.