Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s Bandra residence was the site of a shocking incident on April 14 when two unidentified assailants opened fire outside his home. The Mumbai Police have made significant progress in the case, but a recent development has cast a shadow on the investigation. One of the accused, Anuj Thapan (32), who allegedly supplied the weapons used in the attack, died by suicide while in police custody on April 26. Thapan, along with another accused, Sonu Subhash Chander (37), was arrested in Punjab a week after the incident. The circumstances surrounding Thapan’s suicide are under investigation.
According to a report in NDTV, Thapan, who was arrested in Punjab days earlier, took his own life in a lock-up toilet despite being guarded by police officers. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, with former police officer PK Jain highlighting the mandatory procedure of treating such incidents as murder cases and questioning all officers present. Former Maharashtra senior police officer PK Jain emphasized that all deaths in police custody are treated as murder cases, and a thorough investigation will be conducted by the CID (Criminal Investigation Department). Jain further stressed the importance of routinely checking lock-ups for any objects that could be used for self-harm.
All four accused, including Thapan and Chander, as well as the two shooters Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21), are believed to be linked to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, according to a report by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Bishnoi’s gang is known for its involvement in serious crimes such as kidnapping, murder, extortion, and the smuggling of weapons and drugs. The Mumbai Crime Branch claims to have gathered strong evidence against Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi, whom they have named as the prime suspects in the case. Anmol Bishnoi reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, citing a long-standing feud between the Bishnoi gang and Salman Khan stemming from a blackbuck poaching case in 1998.
Following the attack, Salman Khan’s security detail was significantly enhanced, elevating it to the Y-plus category, which offers one of the highest levels of protection in India. Additionally, Khan was granted permission to carry a firearm and reportedly acquired an armored vehicle for his safety.
