Accused in Salman Khan firing case ‘dies by suicide’ in police custody

MUMBAI: One of the accused, an arms suppliers, linked to the firing incident outside the residence of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, has reportedly died by suicide while in police custody.

According to reports, Anuj Thapan (32) took his own life on Wednesday (May 01) while being held in police custody.

Thapan, who was apprehended from Punjab on April 26 in connection with the case, allegedly resorted to the extreme step inside a toilet attached to the police lock-up at approximately 11 am of Wednesday (May 01).

He was among ten other inmates in the lock-up, which was being reportedly monitored by four to five police personnel.

An investigation is currently underway to determine the factors that led Thapan to take such drastic measures.

Meanwhile, two other individuals allegedly involved in the firing incident, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, remain in police custody.

Both suspects were captured on CCTV footage leaving the vicinity on a motorcycle on the night of the incident.

All four accused, including Thapan, Gupta, Pal, and another individual named Sonu Subhash Chander, are believed to have direct or indirect connections to incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

According to the national investigation agency (NIA), Bishnoi is involved in a range of criminal activities, including kidnapping, murder, extortion, and smuggling of weapons and narcotics.

The crime branch unit of the Mumbai police had previously identified Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi as prime suspects in the case, citing compelling evidence against them.

Since November 2022, Salman Khan's security has been heightened to Y-Plus level due to threats from Bishnoi and another gangster named Goldy Brar.