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.

Mumbai: The city crime branch’s preliminary probe into the alleged suicide of Anuj Thapan (26), an accused in the firing incident at actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence, has revealed negligence by the guard stationed inside the lockup at Mumbai Police headquarters. A detailed examination of the CCTV footage from the two cameras inside the lockup an hour prior shows Thapan restlessly moving for nearly 40 minutes in the veranda before entering the toilet where he allegedly hanged himself using a string of a rug on Wednesday.

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 told TOI. The examination found marks on the neck, but the final autopsy report will be issued after histopathology tests. Thapan’s viscera has been preserved for analysis, and due to the absence of any claimants, the body was kept in cold storage.

Police said there will be two inquiries: one under CrPC Section 176, headed by the judicial magistrate, and another under CrPC Section 174, which provides for the preparation of an inquest report in case of suicide, murder, death by an animal, machinery, or accident, or death under suspicious circumstances.

Thapan and Subhash Chander were arrested from Punjab on April 24. The duo allegedly gave two country-made pistols and 40 cartridges to Sagar Pal and Vikas Gupta in Mumbai on behalf of Anmol Bishnoi, the Canada-based cousin of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Pal and Gupta allegedly opened fire outside Khan’s residence on April 14. A lookout circular has been issued against Anmol and police are hoping to gain custody of Lawrence from the Gujarat jail he is lodged in.

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

On Thursday, Azad Maidan police registered an accidental death report, and as it was a custodial death, the case was transferred to state CID. Police said Thapan, who has three previous offences including firing in Punjab, was kept separate from his aides. “On learning that he would be in jail for a long period as MCOCA had been invoked, he may have panicked and may have decided to end his life,” said an officer, adding that the “suicide will have no impact on the case” as there is ample evidence against the accused.

Thapan’s younger brother, a daily wage worker, is expected to arrive in Mumbai on Friday to claim his body. Thapan’s lawyer Amit Mishra said police did not provide any information and it was through media reports that he learnt that the post-mortem was conducted at JJ Hospital. “Thapan’s family is refusing to believe that he committed suicide. The legal course of action depends on his brother,” Mishra said.

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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.

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.

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.

The shooting of a new film starring actress Tamannaah Bhatia was stopped at JJ hospital on Wednesday afternoon after the Minister of Medical Education Hasan Mushrif issued a stay order. The shooting was scheduled to take place for approximately 10 days on the hospital premises. In 2005, the state government’s health officer had advised against filming inside government hospitals.

The production house told mid-day that it had obtained all necessary permissions from the Health Ministry and a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the police station. However, it suffered significant losses after the shooting was abruptly halted by hospital authorities in the afternoon. Subsequently, the production team packed up equipment at the site and is now waiting to regain the permission.

Speaking with mid-day, Mushrif said, “We received information that a film shoot was taking place at JJ hospital, and we immediately informed the hospital management and dean to stop it. We also sent a letter to the hospital to stay the permission they had granted. We are currently investigating who gave the permission to the production house for the shoot.”

Meanwhile, JJ hospital Dean Pallavi Saple said, “We had received letters from the health department and a NOC, and based on these documents, we granted permission for the shoot. Actress Tamannaah Bhatia was present with her team, shooting for an upcoming film. On Wednesday, we received a letter from the health ministry ordering a stay on the shoot. We immediately informed the production team and halted it.”

Mateen Khan, the location manager for the production house, told mid-day: “We obtained permission from the health department and also an NOC from the police. Suddenly, on Wednesday, we received a letter from the hospital authority stating that we were not allowed to continue shooting. We have incurred a significant loss of Rs 1.5 crore-Rs 2 crore. We had created a set of a courtroom and other scenes at JJ hospital. We carried out our work with all the necessary permissions.”

In 2004, some scenes for the film ‘Bunty Aur Babli’—starring Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan—were shot at St George’s Hospital. During the shoot, patients were disturbed and complained to the authorities. Subsequently, in 2005, the former director general of health services, Dr Subhash Salunkhe advised against filming in government hospitals. As a result, several Bollywood directors sought permission to shoot at Cama hospital in 2006 but were denied.