Arms dealer linked to Salman Khan shooting dies in custody

Anuj Thapan, one of the arms dealers involved in the shooting incident outside actor Salman Khan's residence, has tragically died by suicide while in police custody. Thapan, aged 32, was found dead in a bathroom connected to the police cell where he was being held. He had been arrested in Punjab on April 26 in connection to supplying firearms used in the shooting at Salman Khan's Mumbai home on April 14.

Thapan shared the cell with ten other inmates and was under the supervision of four to five police officers. The circumstances surrounding his suicide are currently under investigation. Former senior police official PK Jain emphasized the importance of treating any death in custody as a homicide and mentioned that the police are responsible for ensuring cells are free of items that could be used for self-harm.

Two other suspects, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, who are believed to have carried out the shooting, are also in custody. They were captured on CCTV leaving the scene on a motorcycle on the night of the incident. All four accused individuals have ties to incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, known for a range of criminal activities including kidnapping, murder, and smuggling of weapons and contraband.

The Mumbai Crime Branch recently identified Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi as the most wanted suspects in this case. Due to threats from Bishnoi and another gangster, Goldy Brar, Salman Khan's security has been upgraded to Y-Plus since November 2022, allowing him to carry a personal firearm and travel in an armored vehicle.