Bombay High Court Says Anuj Thapan’s Death Not a Custodial Killing; Case Under Investigation | Mumbai News

Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Friday said the death of Anuj Thapan, an accused in the April 14 firing outside actor Salman Khan‘s Bandra residence, who allegedly died by suicide inside a crime branch lock-up toilet, does not appear to be a custodial death.
It referred to the magistrate’s inquiry report. “The findings show he went alone to the bathroom, stood on that bucket, and then he hanged himself. Tell us some plausible explanation. When an 18-year-old boy is not even the main accused in the case, why would anybody want to kill him?” asked Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan.
“That’s what I am asking,” said advocates Nishant Rana and Sandeep Katke, representing Thapan’s mother, Rita Devi, from Punjab. She sought a CBI probe into his May 1 “unnatural” death. Rana said this was not Thapan’s first time. He was in jail in two cases under the Arms Act.
The judges said the CCTV footage does not indicate anybody accompanied Thapan in the toilet, and from the photo, there is nothing to show he struggled or resisted. They said they can understand the anxiety and emotions of the mother having lost her son but can’t fathom a reason for police to kill him. “He is not even the shooter. What would the police achieve by killing him?… On the contrary, he would be the best person to disclose all that happened. They could have even made him an approver. We would be the first ones if there was something. But there is nothing which we find amiss. CCTV clearly shows he was restless, walking up and down prior to the incident.,” said Justice Mohite-Dere.
Justice Chavan said a person built strong physically may not be so mentally. “Who knows what circumstance made him quickly take that particular decision and hang himself,” he said. The judges said Thapan “may have thought now my parents will have to incur great expenditure on coming to Maharashtra, applying for bail, lawyers…”
Rana said a mother knows her child better. Justice Mohite-Dere disagreed, saying, “Nobody can even profess to know…. What transpires in a person at that moment, nobody can tell. That’s why suicides happen.” Adjourning the hearing, HC said, “If required, we’ll see the CCTV footage and satisfy our conscience before any order is passed.”