Salman Khan house firing case: Mother of Anuj Kumar seeks CBI probe into son’s custodial death

Chandigarh, May 7: The mother of Anuj Kumar, a suspect implicated in the firing incident outside Salman Khan’s residence, who allegedly died by suicide while in the Mumbai police custody, has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. She has sought a CBI investigation into the purported custodial death and is requesting a re-examination of the post-mortem report.

According to the Mumbai Police, the deceased, Anuj Kumar, was among four persons arrested by the crime branch in connection with the firing incident outside Salman Khan’s Mumbai residence on April 14. A few days following his arrest, Anuj Kumar was reported to have died by suicide in police custody. Reeta Devi, a resident of a village in Punjab, has stressed the urgency of the matter, stating that the body is currently at their residence and she wishes to proceed with a fresh post-mortem.

The case was brought before Justice Vinod S Bhardhwaj on Tuesday after an urgent listing request was granted. Kumar had been booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and was arrested on April 23. The petition highlights concerns regarding Kumar’s death in police custody, particularly considering the public statements made by various leaders and influential figures prior to his demise, suggesting potential police involvement.

The plea contends that the initial post-mortem examination was conducted in Mumbai under the supervision of the same police force responsible for Kumar’s custody, with the police determining the cause of death as suicide. Consequently, the petition argues that a re-examination of the post-mortem is crucial for a fair and impartial investigation. Despite efforts to request a re-examination through the SDM, Abohar, the authorities have reportedly declined without the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directives.

The petitioner has also sought seeks the appointment of a retired judge to oversee and conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Kumar’s demise.