Firing outside Salman Khan’s house: Bombay HC orders removal of actor’s name from plea seeking CBI probe in accused’s custodial death

Accordingly, the bench directed the petitioner to remove Khan’s name as party respondent from the petition forthwith.

“What is the point of making a person who is supposed to be the victim a party respondent? We see no reason why Khan should continue to be in this plea. He is not a necessary party. You are concerned with the death of your son, the court will look into that. By adding Khan, you are digressing from the core issue”, the court remarked.

Thapan was lodged at a crime branch lock-up in the Mumbai police headquarters. On May 1, police said Thapan died by suicide in the bathroom of the lock-up. In her plea, Rita Devi said that despite a custodial death having occurred, the police had not registered an FIR. She requested that an FIR be registered forthwith and the CBI should inquire into the case. Khan was one of the respondents in the plea.

A vacation bench of the high court had directed the Mumbai police to file a status report on the ongoing probe initiated into Thapan’s death. This was after the prosecution informed the court that the investigation into the death had been transferred to the Crime Investigation Department and a magisterial enquiry had also been initiated. On May 22, the high court had also expressed displeasure over an “incomplete” autopsy or post mortem report submitted in connection with the custodial death

On Monday, the prosecutor informed the court that the magistrate had summoned Thapan’s mother for recording a statement, which she received belatedly. The court asked the magistrate to issue fresh summons and ensure that the same is served upon the mother well in time to enable her to appear. The HC will hear the plea after six weeks.