Salman Khan firing case: Family demands 2nd post-mortem

Anuj Kumar Thapan, the deceased

After relocating to the high court to pursue a CBI probe into the alleged suicide case of Anuj Thapan, accused in the Salman Khan house firing case, the family has announced their decision to transport his body to Punjab for the final rites. The family had earlier refused to claim his body, demanding a CBI probe. Expressing distrust in the post-mortem conducted at JJ hospital, which confirmed death by suicide, the family is urging the Punjab government to conduct a second post-mortem. Additionally, they have staged a protest in Punjab with Thapan's body.

"We have moved to the high court through our lawyer to request a CBI probe, and the court is set to hear our case soon. We took custody of the body as his mother was unwell and wished to see her child one last time. We have already arrived in Punjab and plan to perform the final rites soon. Additionally, we have requested the Punjab government to conduct a second post-mortem, but we are awaiting their response. In the meantime, we are protesting with the deceased's body to ensure our demands are addressed," stated Jaswant Singh, Thapan's grandfather.

"We have faith in the judiciary that our child will get justice. The entire Bishnoi community is angry and has participated in protests in Punjab. We believe that this has been done at the instructions of Salman Khan and some politicians. The truth will prevail only when the matter goes to the CBI," said Kuldeep Bishnoi, uncle of Thapan.

The family previously asserted suspicions of foul play regarding the death of Anuj, while the Crime Branch maintains he died by suicide. They suspect possible strangulation and are calling for a CBI investigation. Thapan, who was arrested by the Crime Branch for allegedly supplying the weapon used in the firing outside Khan's house, reportedly died by suicide on May 1 while in custody. The state CID is currently investigating his custodial death. However, the post-mortem report conducted at JJ hospital has confirmed evidence of a ligature mark on the neck with signs of asphyxia. The report also states that the brain was kept for Neuropathology, organs were kept for histopathology, and visceral was kept for chemical analysis at the JJ hospital.

"The state CID has already started their probe and has taken the statement of the family members to ascertain certain facts, such as how the family was contacted by the police to share the information about Thapan's death. We claimed the body only because his mother is unwell. We have gone to court for a CBI probe as the state was not paying any heed to our demands," said Adv Paramahans Dixit, who is representing the family in Mumbai.

May 1
Day Thapan died