Mumbai, Feb 13 (UNI) The Bombay High Court has reserved its order on a plea filed by Rita Devi, mother of Anuj Thapan — the accused in firing outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s residence who had allegedly committed suicide in custody — seeking a CBI probe into his death, alleging foul play.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale reserved its order after arguments of both prosecution and defence concluded on Wednesday.
During the hearing, petitioner advocate raised doubts over the magisterial inquiry report, which ruled Thapan’s death a suicide, upon which the bench directed the State to show the relevant portion of the CCTV footage to Devi’s advocate.
In December last year, the court had observed that the 18-year-old’s demise did not appear to be a custodial death. It also noted that police had no apparent reason to harm him, as he could have been helpful in their investigation.
Thapan was found hanging in the toilet of the Crime Branch lock-up at Crawford Market on May one, 2024.
Police claimed he used a bedsheet to take the extreme step. A mandatory magisterial inquiry was conducted, and a report was submitted to the HC.
The CID, which also investigated the case, submitted a separate report.
On April 14, 2024, two motorcycle-borne men allegedly opened fire outside Galaxy Apartments in suburban Bandra, where Khan resides with his family.
The alleged shooters, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, were later arrested from Gujarat. Thapan and an associate were apprehended in Punjab on April 26 for allegedly supplying firearms and ammunition for the shooting.
Police claimed he had links to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
