Accused in Salman Khan Firing Case Commits Suicide in Police Custody

Anuj Thapan, arrested for allegedly supplying weapons used in the firing incident at Salman Khan‘s house, died by suicide in Mumbai Police custody on Wednesday. Reports indicate he hanged himself with a bedsheet in the police headquarters’ toilet.

Police discovered the incident around 11 am and rushed Anuj in critical condition to GT Hospital. He was later transferred to St. George Hospital at CSMT, where doctors declared him dead. The investigation into his suicide is now handled by the state CID.

Mumbai Crime Branch had arrested Anuj (32) and Subhash Chander (37) from Punjab on April 25th in connection with the case. Both were accused of supplying weapons used in the attack. Anuj was a truck driver, while Subhash is a farmer. Both had prior criminal records in Punjab and Haryana and were reportedly associates of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi for several years.

Investigators believe Anuj and Subhash delivered two pistols to Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta in Panvel on March 15th. These weapons were allegedly used by Vicky and Sagar when they fired upon Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments residence. While Vicky and Sagar were apprehended in Bhuj, Gujarat, Anuj and Subhash were arrested in Punjab.

Authorities have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) against all those accused in the firing incident, including key conspirators Anmol Bishnoi and Lawrence Bishnoi. A total of six individuals have been arrested. MCOCA makes it harder for the accused to get bail, with a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment.