Bombay HC issued a direction on the removal of Salman Khan’s name from the custodial death plea
Bombay HC on alleged custodial death of Anuj Thapan: The Bombay High Court has ordered the removal of actor Salman Khan’s name from a petition requesting a CBI investigation into the alleged custodial death of Anuj Thapan. Anuj, accused of supplying weapons in a case involving gunfire outside Salman Khan’s house, was found dead in a police lock-up toilet on May 1. His mother, Rita Devi, filed a petition on May 3, alleging foul play and requesting a CBI probe into her son’s death. She included Salman Khan as a respondent in the plea. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Shyam Chandak directed Ms Devi to remove Salman Khan’s name from the petition. The court pointed out that the petition did not seek any relief from Salman Khan and that there were no allegations against him. They stated, “He is not a necessary party.” The court emphasized that Ms Devi’s main concern is the investigation into her son’s death, which will proceed. Ms Devi’s lawyer argued that even though no relief was sought from Salman Khan, he should still be part of the ongoing CID investigation. The court responded that the decision of who to include in the investigation rests with the CID. They advised the lawyer to focus on the main issue—her son’s death—and avoid unnecessary distractions.
Custodial Death of Anuj Thapan
Custodial Death of Anuj Thapan: Case Explained
Background
On May 1, 2024, Anuj Thapan, an accused in a case involving gunfire outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence, was found dead in a Mumbai police lock-up. The police reported his death as a suicide. However, Anuj’s mother, Rita Devi, alleged that her son had been physically assaulted and tortured while in custody. Seeking justice, she filed a petition in the Bombay High Court on May 3, 2024, requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into her son’s death. Rita Devi included Salman Khan as a respondent in her petition, believing it relevant due to the circumstances surrounding the case.
Court’s Decision
On June 10, 2024, a division bench of Justice Revati Mohite-Dere and Justice Shyam Chandak ordered the removal of Salman Khan’s name from the petition. The court emphasized that there were no allegations or relief sought against Salman Khan in the petition, making his inclusion unnecessary. The judges stated that involving Khan diverted attention from the primary issue, which was the investigation into Anuj Thapan’s death.
Events Leading to Anuj Thapan’s Death
- April 14, 2024: Two motorbike-borne individuals opened fire outside Salman Khan’s Bandra residence.
- April 26, 2024: Anuj Thapan was arrested in Punjab for allegedly supplying weapons to the shooters.
- May 1, 2024: Thapan was found dead in a Mumbai police lock-up.
Rita Devi’s Petition
Rita Devi’s plea claimed foul play in her son’s death, suggesting that he had been assaulted and tortured in custody. She requested a CBI investigation to ensure a fair and thorough inquiry. Despite including Salman Khan in her petition, the court determined that Khan’s involvement was irrelevant to the investigation into Thapan’s death.
Court’s Guidance
The bench advised that the focus should remain on the custodial death of Anuj Thapan. Including Salman Khan, they argued, was a distraction from the main issue. The court pointed out that the petitioner’s primary concern was the death of her son, not any direct involvement or wrongdoing by Salman Khan.
Current Status of the Case
The court has directed the magistrate to issue a fresh summons to Rita Devi to record her statement. The ongoing investigation, now handled by the Crime Investigation Department (CID), continues to probe the circumstances of Thapan’s death. A vacation bench had earlier directed the Mumbai police to submit a status report on the investigation. A magisterial inquiry has also been initiated. The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing after six weeks.
Why did the Bombay High Court order the removal of Salman Khan’s name from the petition regarding Anuj Thapan’s custodial death?
The Bombay High Court ordered the removal of Salman Khan’s name from the petition because there were no allegations or relief sought against him. The court stated that his involvement was unnecessary and detracted from the main issue, which was the investigation into Anuj Thapan’s death.
What was the main concern of Rita Devi’s petition filed in the Bombay High Court?
Rita Devi’s main concern in her petition was to seek a CBI investigation into the alleged custodial death of her son, Anuj Thapan. She alleged foul play and claimed that her son had been physically assaulted and tortured while in custody.
What did the court advise Rita Devi’s lawyer regarding the inclusion of Salman Khan in the investigation?
The court advised Rita Devi’s lawyer that the decision of who to include in the CID investigation rests with the CID itself. They emphasized that the focus should be on the core issue—investigating Anuj Thapan’s death—rather than involving unnecessary parties like Salman Khan.
