DELETE SALMAN KHAN'S NAME FROM CUSTODIAL DEATH PLEA OF FIRING ACCUSED'S KIN: BOMBAY HIGH COURT

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Monday directed that Salman Khan's name be deleted as respondent in a petition filed by the mother of late Anuj Thapan, an accused in the April 14 firing incident outside the actor's Bandra residence.

"Delete his name...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 [Khan] should continue to be in this plea. He is not a necessary party," said a bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Shyam Chandak.

Rita Devi has sought a CBI probe into the "custodial death" of her son Anuj who was found hanging inside the toilet of the crime branch lock-up at Crawford Market on May 1. Her petition claimed that Anuj was tortured by police and "later on the entire incident was given the shape of suicidal death".

The judges took note that Khan was impleaded in the petition but there was no averment or relief sought against him.

They further said that the petitioner is concerned with the son's death and the HC will look into it. The judges said that by adding Khan as a respondent, the petitioner was "digressing from the core issue..."

Rita's advocate said while no relief is sought against Khan, he should be part of the state CID's probe into An-uj's death. The judges replied that it is for CID to decide. In the order, they recorded that Rita "seeks leave to amend the petition" to delete Khan's name "as there is no pleading against him and no relief sought against him".

Rita's advocate informed that she belatedly received summons by a magistrate, who is also conducting an inquiry, to record her statement. The judges said the magistrate shall issue fresh summons and ensure it is served in advance so that she can appear in court.