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.