Salman Khan firing case: Post mortem confirms Anuj Thapan died of hanging, say cops

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The post mortem report of Anuj Thapan, an accused in the Salman Khan firing case confirmed he died of hanging as there are ligature marks on the neck and signs of asphyxia, a Mumbai police official said on Friday, reported the PTI.

On April 14, a firing incident outside the Bandra house of actor Salman Khan.

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Anuj Thapan, who was held from Punjab along with his associate Sonu Bishnoi on April 26 and is accused of supplying firearms and bullets for the firing incident, was found dead in the lock-up of the Crime Branch in the commissionerate complex at Crawford Market on Wednesday, as per the PTI.

He had allegedly hanged himself with a bed sheet in the toilet of the lock-up, as per police.

"The post mortem was conducted on Thursday evening in state-run JJ Hospital in Byculla. As per the report, there are ligature marks on the neck and signs of asphyxia, all of which confirm that he died of hanging," the police official said, according to the PTI.

The doctors who conducted the post mortem have reserved their opinions, while the deceased's viscera, tissue and other samples have been preserved for forensic and chemical analysis and organs for histopathology, he informed.

"Footage from the lock-up CCTV shows Anuj Thapan going into the toilet alone. It is a clear cut case of suicide," another official said.

Four persons, comprising Anuj Thapan, Sonu Bishnoi, shooters Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, have been arrested in connection with the firing incident, while gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi have been shown as wanted accused, as per police.

State CID begins investigations into death of accused in police lock-up

Meanwhile, the State Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Maharashtra Police has taken over the probe and on Wednesday began its investigations into the death of Anuj Thapan, an accused who had been arrested in connection with the Salman Khan firing case, reported the PTI.

Anuj Thapan, 32, arrested in the case of the firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence allegedly hanged himself in the police lock-up on Wednesday, officials said.

The CCTV footage of the lockup will be examined, they said.

The state CID has taken over the probe into Anuj Thapan's custodial death and it will investigate whether there was any negligence on the part of Mumbai Crime Branch officials, he said.

Usually, if an accused informs the lockup in-charge that he wishes to go to the toilet, a police personnel accompanies him. The CID will look into whether these norms were followed, the official added.

(with PTI inputs)