Salman's firing case: Bombay HC questions accused's 'incomplete' autopsy report
The Bombay High Court has expressed dissatisfaction over the "incomplete" autopsy report of Anuj Thapan, a late accused in the Salman Khan house firing case. During a hearing on Wednesday, Justices NR Borkar and Somasekhar Sundaresan scrutinized the post-mortem report and questioned, "Where is the diagram of the ligature mark? Is the ligature mark oblique in shape or round?" They also highlighted that information about any other injuries on Thapan's body was missing from the report.
Court raised questions on cause of Thapan's death
The court further delved into the cause of Thapan's death, stating, "Death by asphyxiation can also be because of strangling. It need not be because of hanging only." This statement suggests that the bench was considering multiple possibilities for the cause of death. Thapan was arrested in connection with a shooting incident outside Khan's residence in April and later died in police custody on May 1, allegedly by suicide.
Thapan's mother filed a petition alleging foul play
Rita Devi, Thapan's mother, took legal action following her son's death. She filed a petition alleging foul play in the circumstances surrounding his demise. The court's scrutiny of the autopsy report and its subsequent questions about the cause of death have added weight to Devi's concerns. This development comes after Thapan was arrested as one of six individuals involved in the shooting incident that transpired on April 14.
Khan seeks to remove his name from Thapan's death case
In addition to this, senior counsel Aabad Ponda, representing Khan, sought that the actor's name be removed as "party respondent," adding that it was denting his reputation. "The actor is in fact the victim here. Someone tried to attack him (Khan) and his house. He does not know who is behind the attacks and who have been arrested," he said.
Legal jargon: What does the term mean?
Per Law.com, "[Respondent refers to] the party who is required to answer a petition for a court order or writ requiring the respondent to take some action, halt an activity or obey a court's direction. In such matters the moving party (the one filing the petition) is usually called the "petitioner." "Thus, the respondent is equivalent to a defendant in a lawsuit, but the potential result is a court order and not money damages."
Revisit the alarming incident
In the early hours of April 14, two bike-borne men fired multiple rounds at Khan's home Galaxy Apartments in Bandra, Mumbai. They were later identified as Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal and were nabbed from Gujarat. Though no family member of Khan was hurt during the incident, it raised questions about his safety, particularly because he has been at the receiving end of several death threats in the past few years.
Responsibility of the attack; Bishnoi community's role
Gangster Anmol Bishnoi claimed the responsibility of the attack, saying, "After this, bullets won't miss your empty house." Bishnoi and his brother Lawrence Bishnoi's ire stems from the infamous 1998 incident involving Khan's alleged hunting of a blackbuck—an act deemed disrespectful to the Bishnoi community. Earlier this month, The All India Bishnoi Society stated, "If Salman himself apologizes, the Bishnoi society will consider the apology." Khan, meanwhile, continues to stay focused on work and will next be seen in Sikandar.
