Fifth Accused Arrested In Salman Khan House Firing Case From Rajasthan

Salman Khan House firing case: Another accused has been arrested from Rajasthan for allegedly being involved in the firing incident outside Salman Khan's home.

File photo of Salman Khan

The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested another accused in the Salman Khan house firing case. The accused, identified as Mohammad Chaudhary, was taken into custody from Rajasthan. This is the fifth arrest in the case. Chaudhary allegedly helped the two shooters, Sagar Pal, and Vicky Gupta, provide money, and do recce. Chaudhary will be taken to Mumbai on Tuesday where he will be produced in court. The Mumbai Crime Branch will demand his custody.

Two bike-borne men opened fire outside Salman Khan's home in Bandra, Mumbai. Four people were arrested earlier — Anuj Thapan, Sonu Bishnoi, including the alleged shooters Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta. Anuj Thapan and Sonu Bishnoi were arrested for supplying the weapons used in the crime. The police have charged the accused under provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA).

Thapan later purportedly committed suicide in the Commissioner's Office lock-up toilet by hanging himself. The incident occurred on May 1 at the Crawford Market Commissionerate. He was taken to the hospital but was declared dead during treatment. Thapan's custodial death stirred up another controversy. His family has approached the Bombay High Court, seeking a CBI probe into the matter.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) also raised questions over the incident. The party cited the presence of CCTV cameras and officers in the police station and said that there was a "big conspiracy". His family, too, alleged foul play. A petition by his mother Rita Devi alleged custodial torture and assaults on Thapan. Rita Devi has urged the court to order an examination of the Call Data records of officers involved in the investigation between April 24 and May 2.

A case has also been registered against gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi. After the firing outside Salman Khan's house, gangster Anmol took responsibility for the crime in a Facebook post. A Portugal VPN was used to make the Facebook post. Lawrence is in jail, while his brother Anmol is hiding in America. Police have declared Lawrence and Anmol wanted in this case.