High Court Sanctions Second Post-Mortem for Accused in Salman Khan House Firing Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on a recent Wednesday, granted permission for a second post-mortem examination of Anuj Kumar, a man who died under police custody. This decision followed his arrest in connection with the shooting incident outside the residence of Bollywood icon Salman Khan in Mumbai. The court's ruling was in response to a plea by Anuj Kumar's mother, Reeta Devi, who demanded a re-examination of her son's death.

Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj presided over the case, instructing the petitioner to transfer Anuj Kumar's body to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College in Faridkot by May 10. The court concluded the petition without assessing the merits of the case or involving the state of Maharashtra but directed the Punjab government to undertake a second post-mortem.

The backdrop of this legal proceeding is rooted in an event on April 14, when two individuals on a motorcycle fired shots outside Salman Khan’s Bandra home. Following this incident, four individuals, including Anuj Kumar, were apprehended. Kumar was accused of providing firearms and ammunition and was arrested from Punjab on April 26, remaining in police custody until April 30. Unfortunately, on May 1, Kumar was found deceased in a lock-up toilet within the crime branch's commissionerate complex at Crawford Market.

Davinder Singh Khurana, representing the petitioner, argued that Anuj's body was released to his family post an initial autopsy. Khurana highlighted the family's suspicion that Anuj’s death was not just an unfortunate incident but a result of a deliberate act, suggesting a conspiracy behind it. The family believes that a second post-mortem is crucial to uncover any potential foul play involved.

Contrarily, the state's counsel argued against the necessity of a second autopsy, labeling the petition as baseless and lacking substantial grounds for such a request. Despite this contention, the court’s decision to allow another post-mortem aims to provide clarity and possibly bring solace to Anuj Kumar’s grieving family.

This legal development underscores the judiciary's role in addressing concerns raised by citizens regarding custodial deaths and ensuring that justice is served through transparent investigations. The outcome of the second post-mortem examination is awaited with keen interest as it may shed further light on the circumstances leading to Anuj Kumar's untimely demise.