Truth comes out after 29 years: Salman Shah was murdered, limbs were cut off during postmortem

A long-standing family battle has led to the order to convert the death of film star Salman Shah 29 years ago into a murder. Following the court's order on Monday, Salman Shah's mother Neela Chowdhury sat in front of a major television channel in the country and revealed various aspects of the incident in a remorseful interview. Several important parts of the interview were released on Wednesday (October 23)—based on allegations and recollections directly from Neela Chowdhury's voice.

Neela Chowdhury said, "When the court verdict was pronounced, I felt like I had my son back once again. I fought for 29 years—they said death, but today the court is saying, my son was killed." She also recalled some of the evidence mentioned in the court verdict with joy; Accordingly, the verdict stated that syringes were found at the scene and that the syringes had been used—which, she claims, indicates a situation capable of causing death.

In the interview, Neela also said that they found the treatment of the family and the police action immediately after the incident to be uncooperative and unhistorical. “We never approved of taking Salman to the hospital without our consent, working in the name of postmortem, and the devices or ‘parts’ that were later cut,” she said, claiming that she had raised this information many times in various forums.

Although there is no confirmed information, Neela’s memoirs paint a picture of the first moments of the incident—the great tension, the presence of an unknown person, and her description of Salman’s anxiety about the elevator and the room bell while he was unconscious. She said, “When I entered the house, I saw an unknown man sitting in the corner, and my son was frozen—his lips were black, I noticed something unusual in his legs. That’s when I realized that maybe there was no time.”

Meanwhile, on behalf of the family, uncle Alamgir Kumkum filed a new complaint on Tuesday (October 20) night, in which a total of 11 people, including Samira Khan, have been named as accused. Neela said that the case was filed on behalf of the family and her brother signed as an attorney with permission. She says that how the transformation that has taken place in the old case will affect the new case process will now depend on the court and the legal process.

Regarding the postmortem and the subsequent proceedings, Neela alleged that, “Some work has been done in the name of postmortem which we have never accepted. They claimed that a postmortem was done, but we are skeptical about whether it was actually done.” She claimed that the family was not properly questioned at that time; some decisions were taken without their consent. Neela said that they have also informed and are informing the court-appointed authorities about the family’s testimony, police station report and travelogue.

Neela said, “I have been discredited for 29 years. They say my son committed suicide—but I know my son loved me; a child cannot kill himself because of his love for a mother. I believe my son was killed. I will not give up this fight.”

Over the past few decades, the police investigation, CID verdict, and court deliberations over the death of Salman Shah have been the focus of much news and discussion. Neela’s new orientation and the court’s recent directions will now drive the case in a new direction—and it remains to be seen what the legal process and evidence-based trial will lead to in the next stage.