Enough material on record to proceed against accused in Salman Khan house firing case, says court

Mumbai: A special court here on Monday said prima facie, there was sufficient material on record against six arrested accused, facing attempt to murder, among other charges, in connection with the firing at Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra in April. Special judge B D Shelke took cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the Mumbai police against the sic accused. The court said the chargesheet and documents filed along with it reveal that there is sufficient prima facie material on record for proceeding against the accused for offences punishable under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder) 34 (common intention) 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), among others, as well as other relevant provisions MCOC (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime) Act and Arms Act.

“There is sufficient prima facie material on record for proceeding against the accused, and hence cognisance (of the chargesheet) is taken,” it said.

The court then issued process to the accused, Vickykumar Gupta, Sagarkumar Pal, Sonukumar Bishnoi, Anujkumar Thapan (now deceased), Mohd Rafiq Choudhary and Harpal Singh.

The accused are currently in judicial custody following their arrest. Thapan committed suicide while in police custody.

Earlier this month, the police filed a 1,735-page chargesheet before the special MCOC court, which included various investigation documents incorporated in three volumes. The confessional statements under the MCOC (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime) Act, 22 panchanamas, and technical evidence are also part of the chargesheet documents.

Two motorcycle-borne men fired five rounds outside Khan’s Galaxy Apartment in Bandra in the early hours of April 14.