Salman Khan house firing: Remove actor's name from plea over death of accused, says HC

The Bombay High Court on 10 June ordered for the removal of actor Salman Khan's name as respondent in a plea seeking a CBI probe into the custodial death of an accused in a case of firing outside the actor's house.

Accused Anuj Thapan was found dead on 1 May inside the toilet of the crime branch police lock-up.

A division bench of justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Shyam Chandak directed petitioner Rita Devi, mother of Thapan, to delete Khan's name from the petition. "Delete his name. Petitioner seeks leave to amend the petition to delete the name of respondent 4 (Salman Khan) as there is no pleading against him and no relief sought against him," the court said.

On 14 April, two motorbike-borne persons opened fire outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's residence in Bandra area. The alleged shooters — Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal — were later arrested from Gujarat.

Thapan was arrested on 26 April from Punjab along with another person for allegedly supplying weapons to the shooters for firing at Khan's residence.

While police claim Thapan killed himself, Rita Devi in her petition filed on 3 May in the HC alleged foul play and claimed he was killed. In her plea, she sought the HC to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into her son's death.

The petition said Thapan was physically assaulted and tortured by police in custody. Rita Devi had in her plea impleaded Khan as a respondent.

The high court on Monday said no averments or relief was sought against Khan in the petition and hence there was no point in keeping the actor involved in the plea.

"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 should continue to be in this plea. He is not a necessary party," the bench said.

The HC noted the petitioner's concern was the death of her son but there was no point in making Khan a respondent in the plea.

"You (petitioner) are concerned with the death of your son...that the court will look into...but what is the point of impleading respondent 4 in the plea," the bench asked.

"This is too far-fetched. No relief is sought against him (Salman Khan) and no averment or allegation is made against him," the court added.

The petitioner's advocate told the court that while they are not seeking any relief in their plea against the actor, he should be part of the probe being carried out by the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) into Thapan's death.

The court said it is for the CID to decide.

By impleading Khan as a respondent in the plea, the petitioner was shifting her focus to something else instead of the main issue, the court said.

"Your (petitioner) focus should be on the main issue. By doing this, you are digressing from the core issue which should be your concern," it said.

Additional public prosecutor Prajakta Shinde informed the court that as per law, a magisterial enquiry was also initiated and submitted a status report of the CID probe before the HC.

Rita Devi's advocate told the court that the magistrate issued summons to the petitioner on May 10, directing her to appear before it for recording her statement on May 23, but she received the summons only on May 24.

The court said the magistrate shall issue fresh summons to the petitioner and ensure it is served prior in time so that she can appear.

The high court posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks.