The family of Anuj Thapan, who passed away while in police custody after his arrest in connection with the shooting incident outside Bollywood star Salman Khan’s residence, has approached the Bombay High Court, urging for a CBI investigation into his demise. Thapan’s mother, Rita Devi, alleges foul play in her petition filed on Friday, disputing the police’s claim that Thapan committed suicide while in lock-up.
Devi’s petition, set for future hearing, implores the High Court to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to look into her son’s death, asserting that Thapan was subjected to physical assault and torture while in custody. The plea also demands the release of CCTV footage from the police station and lock-up where Thapan was detained.
Moreover, the petitioner requests the preservation of call data records (CDR) of the investigating police officials from April 24 to May 2 and seeks a fresh post-mortem examination for Thapan.
Thapan, along with Sonu Bishnoi, Sagar Pal, and Vicky Gupta, was apprehended in connection with the shooting incident, while Lawrence Bishnoi and Anmol Bishnoi are named as wanted suspects.
Thapan, accused of supplying firearms and ammunition for the shooting, was arrested on April 26 and was in police custody until April 30. The police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) in the case.
On April 29, all four accused, including Thapan, were presented before a special court and remanded to police custody until May 8. Thapan was discovered deceased in the lock-up’s restroom at the crime branch in Crawford Market on May 1.
The incident outside Salman Khan’s residence occurred on April 14, following which Gupta and Pal were apprehended in Gujarat.