New Delhi: In a shocking development, Anuj Thapan, one of the accused in the Salman Khan house firing case, has reportedly attempted suicide while in police custody. The 32-year-old, arrested from Punjab in April, is said to be in critical condition.Alleged arms supplier faces life-threatening situationThapan, along with Sonu Subhash Chander, is accused of supplying the weapons used in the April 14 shooting outside the Bollywood superstars Mumbai residence. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led Thapan to attempt suicide.Police procedures under scrutinyFormer senior Maharashtra police officer PK Jain highlighted the seriousness of a death in custody. He stated that such incidents are treated as murder cases, prompting a mandatory investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that would involve questioning all officers present at the police station.Jain further emphasized the importance of thorough lock-up inspections to remove any potential means for self-harm. He acknowledged past instances of suicide by hanging with clothing and stressed the role of police guards in preventing escapes and suicide attempts.Network of gangsters tied to the caseTwo other individuals, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, allegedly fired the shots at Khans residence. CCTV footage captured them fleeing the scene on a motorcycle. All four accused are reportedly linked to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has linked Bishnoi to a range of criminal activities, including kidnapping, murder, extortion, and smuggling of weapons, drugs, and liquor.The Mumbai crime branch, having identified strong evidence against Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi, declared them the prime suspects in the case last month. Since threats emerged from Bishnoi and another gangster, Goldy Brar, in November 2022, Salman Khan has been granted Y-Plus security, allowing him to carry a firearm and use an armored vehicle.
