Mumbai/New Delhi:
One of the two gun suppliers in the shooting case outside actor Salman Khan's house died by suicide today while in police custody, sources said.
Anuj Thapan, 32, who was arrested from Punjab on April 26, went to a toilet next to the police cell at 11 am and took the extreme step, sources said.
He stayed with ten other prisoners in the lock-up, guarded by four to five police officers.
He and another accused, Sonu Subhash Chander, allegedly surrendered the weapons used in the shooting outside the 'Tiger Zinda Hai' actor's house in Mumbai on April 14.
What drove Anuj Thapan to suicide is under investigation, sources said.
Former senior Maharashtra police officer PK Jain told NDTV that every death in a lockup is reported as a murder case. “All police officers at the police station will be interrogated by the CID (Criminal Investigation Department),” Mr Jain said.
The former top cop said police usually ensure locks are checked for items that could be used by someone to die by suicide.
“There have been cases where people have died by suicide using a noose made from pajamas in lock-ups… A police officer always guards the lock-up to ensure that prisoners do not escape, and also to keep an eye on suicide attempts ,” Mr Jain told NDTV.
Two others, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, who allegedly fired the shots, are also in police custody. Both were seen on CCTV leaving the area on a motorcycle on the evening the incident occurred.
All four suspects are known to be directly or indirectly linked to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, whose main activities, according to the anti-terrorist agency National Investigation Agency (NIA), include kidnapping, murder, extortion for ransom and cross-border smuggling of sophisticated weapons. and narcotics, land smuggling of contraband, and illegal liquor smuggling.
The Mumbai Crime Branch last month said it had found strong evidence against Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi, following which the Crime Branch announced both as the most wanted suspects in the case.
As of November 2022, Salman Khan's security level has been increased to Y-Plus due to threats from Lawrence Bishnoi and another gangster, Goldy Brar. The actor is allowed to carry a personal firearm and drives an armored vehicle.