Bombay HC orders Salman Khan's name removed from plea in Anuj Thapan custodial death case

One of the accused in Salman Khan’s firing case, Anuj Thapan, was found dead on May 1 inside the toilet of the crime branch police lock-up. While police officials claimed it was a suicide, Thapan’s mother, Rita Devi, alleged foul play, asserting he was killed, in a petition filed on May 3 in the High Court.

In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has ordered the removal of Salman Khan’s name from the plea seeking a CBI investigation into Anuj Thapan’s custodial death. 

On Monday, a division bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Shyam Chandak directed petitioner Rita Devi to amend the petition to exclude Khan's name.

"Delete his name. Petitioner seeks leave to amend the petition to delete the name of respondent 4 as there is no pleading against him and no relief sought against him," the court stated.

The bench questioned the inclusion of the actor in the petition, pointing out that Salman Khan was not a ‘necessary party’. “What is the point of making a person who is supposed to be the victim a party respondent? We see no reason why respondent 4 (Salman Khan) should continue to be in this plea. He is not a necessary party," the bench remarked.

Rita Devi, Thapan’s mother, continues to seek a CBI probe into her son’s death. She alleges that her son was ‘physically assaulted’ and ‘tortured by the police’ while in custody.

Despite these allegations, Devi had included Salman Khan as a respondent in her petition. However, the court clarified that since no specific relief was being sought against the actor, his inclusion was unnecessary.

Nishant Rana, the petitioner’s advocate, argued that although they are not seeking any direct relief against Salman Khan, he should remain part of the CID investigation into Thapan’s death. The bench responded that it was up to the investigating agency to make that decision.