Mumbai: The family of Anuj Thapan (26), an accused in the firing incident at actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence who allegedly died by suicide in the lockup at police headquarters on Wednesday, on Friday refused to claim his body till a case of murder is filed. They also sought a CBI probe.

The preliminary postmortem report has ruled out any foul play. “Preliminary findings suggest that the injuries are consistent with those typically associated with hanging,” a source at JJ Hospital had told TOI on Thursday. The final report will be issued after histopathology tests.

Anuj’s maternal grandfather Jashwant Singh and uncle Kuldeep Bishnoi, who arrived in the city on Thursday, claimed that police have been pressuring them to claim the body and even offered to send it to Punjab by flight. After visiting J J Hospital morgue on Friday, Singh claimed that the injuries on Anuj’s neck do not resemble those typically found in hanging cases. “It is a case of murder,” he told TOI.

“We will not claim the body until a murder FIR is filed.” He said they plan to move court on Saturday and seek a re-postmortem and registration of murder FIR.

The crime branch has dismissed the claims. Preliminary probe suggests that Anuj may have taken the drastic step as he was upset about MCOCA being invoked against him and the challenges he would face in jail.

Meanwhile, a state CID team took all documents related to the accidental death report from Azad Maidan police, including postmortem report, DVR, and CCTV footage of the lockup. Sources said CID will summon officers handling the case to record their statements.

Earlier, police had said on Wednesday, around 12.30 pm, an officer in charge of the lockup was conducting a routine check when an inmate told him that Anuj hadn’t returned from the toilet. They found him hanging from the window grille with a string wound around his neck. He was taken to GT Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Anju and Subhash Chander were arrested from Punjab on April 24 for allegedly providing two country-made pistols and 40 cartridges to Sagar Pal and Vikas Gupta on behalf of Anmol Bishnoi, the Canada-based cousin of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Pal and Gupta are accused of opening fire outside Khan’s home.

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The family of Anuj Kumar Thapan, who allegedly died by suicide in police custody on Wednesday, is demanding a CBI investigation into the death. They claim their son was mistreated and could have been strangled to death. Thapan died in police custody, and the post-mortem examination confirmed suicide by hanging. The state CID is investigating to determine what occurred inside the lockup where the accused in the Salman Khan firing case took his own life. Thapan’s family, including his uncle, cousin, and grandfather, arrived from Punjab on Friday morning to claim his body from JJ Hospital, where the post-mortem was conducted.

The post-mortem confirmed a ligature mark on his neck typical of hanging cases. "We were only informed of his death on May 1 around 2 pm by the police. They booked our flight tickets to Mumbai, but we lack faith in the crime branch and seek a CBI probe," said Kuldeep Bishnoi, Thapan's uncle. 

"Despite CCTV cameras and guards in the lockup, our child wasn't protected, and the police claim he committed suicide. We strongly suspect he was strangled due to political pressure and pressure from Salman Khan," said Bishnoi.

"When we went to the hospital, we were not allowed to see his full body, which was wrapped in white clothes. We could only see his face, and there was a clear mark on his neck indicating possible strangulation. We demanded to see his body for any other marks, but we were denied access," said Bishnoi.

The family also claimed they were unaware of Thapan's arrest by the police last month; they were informed several days after his arrest. "His father passed away a few years ago, and he was the sole provider for his mother, sister, and younger brother. He worked as a truck driver and cleaner. I am certain he is innocent, and his arrest was based on mere suspicion," Bishnoi said.

Regarding Salman Khan, Thapan's uncle expressed, "Salman Khan has hurt the sentiments of our community by killing a black buck and has never apologized. He should consider apologizing because the entire community is angered by his actions. However, this doesn't imply any involvement of my nephew in any assassination attempts."

Thapan’s grandfather, Jaswant Singh, said, "My child is being framed in the case and was later killed. There was a clear mark on his neck, and we demand a CBI probe in the case."

Thapan was arrested last month by the Mumbai police from his hometown in Punjab. He was allegedly involved in supplying weapons to the accused, who fired outside Salman Khan's residence on the instructions of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The police have so far arrested four suspects in the case, including Thapan, and are likely to take custody of Bishnoi as well.