Salman Khan firing case: ‘Cops forced him into confessing’

An undated image of Anuj Kumar Thapan. PIC/PTI

Anuj Kumar Thapan, the alleged gun supplier in the Salman Khan shooting incident who was found dead in a Crime Branch lockup on Wednesday afternoon, was allegedly coerced into giving a confessional statement against Lawrence Bishnoi, according to his legal team. They claimed that the 23-year-old succumbed to the pressure and fear, as he believed that implicating Bishnoi would endanger his family, who reside only a few kilometres from the gangster's village in Rajasthan.

Due to the high-profile nature of the case, my client was unduly pressured by the Crime Branch to provide a confessional statement, despite having no involvement in the firing incident. The intense coercion may have led to his tragic demise. We are currently petitioning the Bombay High Court to ensure a thorough investigation into his death," stated Advocate Vicky Sharma, representing Thapan and his family.

Anuj Kumar Thapan, the deceased

Crime Branch officials declined to comment on the allegations but stated off the record that there are CCTV cameras inside the lockup, capturing everything clearly, and no one was coerced or tortured. "We believe he died by suicide due to depression, especially after the MCOCA [Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act] was invoked against him, indicating a bleak future behind bars," said an officer from the Crime Branch, requesting anonymity.

Sources have said that they would also initiate a departmental inquiry to determine if any oversights led to Thapan's suicide, despite the presence of a guard outside the lockup.

‘Seems there was a lapse'

Thapan, under the custody of the anti-extortion cell (AEC), required round-the-clock monitoring by both the AEC and senior department officers, given his involvement in a high-profile case and direct ties to Bishnoi. "The AEC was supposed to monitor him 24/7 either through CCTV cameras or a guard, but there seems to have been a lapse somewhere that needs to be investigated," commented an officer of the Mumbai Police.

Following protocol, the state CID will investigate the matter since the accused died in police custody. Thapan allegedly died by suicide on Wednesday afternoon inside the lockup situated at the headquarters of the Mumbai Police, marking the first suicide case in such a high-profile police facility.

Officials have conducted a thorough scan of the entire facility to ensure no areas compromise its security, given its use for interrogating several gangsters. According to the Crime Branch, recently, the scan occurred when gangster Prasad Pujari was deported from China and was kept in the facility.

Thapan hailed from the Fazilka district of Punjab, which is a mere 10-12 kilometres from Bishnoi's village in Rajasthan. He played a crucial role in the case, having direct links with Bishnoi, and was a co-accused in firing and extortion cases involving the dreaded gangster in Punjab.