Salman home firing accused ‘suicide’: Lockup guard negligent, show CCTVs

MUMBAI: The city crime branch’s preliminary probe into the alleged suicide of Anuj Thapan (26), an accused in the firing incident at actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence, has revealed negligence by the guard stationed inside the lockup at Mumbai Police headquarters. A detailed examination of the CCTV footage from the two cameras inside the lockup an hour prior shows Thapan restlessly moving for nearly 40 minutes in the veranda before entering the toilet where he allegedly hanged himself using a string of a rug on Wednesday.
The preliminary post-mortem report has ruled out any foul play. “Preliminary findings suggest that the injuries are consistent with those typically associated with hanging,” a source at JJ Hospital told TOI. The examination found marks on the neck, but the final autopsy report will be issued after histopathology tests. Thapan’s viscera has been preserved for analysis, and due to the absence of any claimants, the body was kept in cold storage.
Police said there will be two inquiries: one under CrPC Section 176, headed by the judicial magistrate, and another under CrPC Section 174, which provides for the preparation of an inquest report in case of suicide, murder, death by an animal, machinery, or accident, or death under suspicious circumstances.
Thapan and Subhash Chander were arrested from Punjab on April 24. The duo allegedly gave two country-made pistols and 40 cartridges to Sagar Pal and Vikas Gupta in Mumbai on behalf of Anmol Bishnoi, the Canada-based cousin of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Pal and Gupta allegedly opened fire outside Khan’s residence on April 14. A lookout circular has been issued against Anmol and police are hoping to gain custody of Lawrence from the Gujarat jail he is lodged in.
Police said at 12.30pm, an officer in charge of the lockup was conducting a routine check on the first floor when an inmate told him that Thapan hadn’t returned from the toilet. They found Thapan hanging from the window grille with a string wound around his neck. He was rushed to GT Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
On Thursday, Azad Maidan police registered an accidental death report, and as it was a custodial death, the case was transferred to state CID. Police said Thapan, who has three previous offences including firing in Punjab, was kept separate from his aides. “On learning that he would be in jail for a long period as MCOCA had been invoked, he may have panicked and may have decided to end his life,” said an officer, adding that the “suicide will have no impact on the case” as there is ample evidence against the accused.
Thapan’s younger brother, a daily wage worker, is expected to arrive in Mumbai on Friday to claim his body. Thapan’s lawyer Amit Mishra said police did not provide any information and it was through media reports that he learnt that the post-mortem was conducted at JJ Hospital. “Thapan’s family is refusing to believe that he committed suicide. The legal course of action depends on his brother,” Mishra said.