Anuj Thapan, one of the arms suppliers in the firing incident outside Salman Khan's house, reportedly died by suicide today while in police custody. Thapan, aged 32, was arrested from Punjab on April 26 and was found deceased in a toilet attached to the police lock-up at around 11 am.
Thapan, along with another accused named Sonu Subhash Chander, was allegedly involved in providing the weapons used in the firing incident outside the actor's Mumbai residence on April 14.
The circumstances leading to Thapan's suicide are currently under investigation. Former Maharashtra senior police officer PK Jain commented that any death in police custody is treated as a murder case, and the policemen at the station will be questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Jain emphasized that precautions are typically taken to prevent such incidents in lock-ups, with regular checks conducted to remove any objects that could be used for self-harm. He noted instances where individuals have resorted to suicide using makeshift nooses inside lock-ups.
Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, the other two individuals accused of firing shots outside Salman Khan's house, are also in police custody. Both were captured on CCTV leaving the area on a motorcycle on the night of the incident.
All four accused are said to have direct or indirect connections with Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious gangster known for various criminal activities including kidnapping, murder, extortion, and smuggling. The Mumbai Crime Branch has identified Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi as prime suspects in the case, announcing them as the most wanted individuals.
Salman Khan's security level has been heightened to Y-Plus since November 2022 due to threats from Lawrence Bishnoi and another gangster, Goldy Brar. As a result, Khan is permitted to carry a personal firearm and travels in an armoured vehicle for safety reasons.
The incident underscores the complexity and dangers involved in high-profile criminal cases, especially those linked to organized crime networks.