India Today reports Salaskar's first lethal encounter occurred during his first year of appointment, when he shot dead Raja Shahabuddin, known to police on several counts.

[8] Salaskar, who was reportedly sidelined for the last two years for unearthing the gutka-underworld nexus,[9] was recently attached to the crime branch, where he headed the anti-extortion cell.

If I get any information of his group's involvement in a crime or learn about any shady activity going on at Dagdi Chawl, I will not hesitate to raid his Byculla residence.

India Express quotes statements by Constable Arun Jadhav, who was with the officers Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte and Hemant Karkare when they died.

[12] The three officers and four constables had received information that Sadanand Date had been wounded while resisting hostile terrorist action at the Cama and Albless Hospital for women and children.

Currently located at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), a ten-minute drive from the hospital,[12] they took a Toyota Qualis and proceeded in that direction.

The two terrorists approached the vehicle, dumped the bodies of the three officers on the road and, leaving the constables for dead, proceeded to Metro Junction.

Upon arrival, they aimed three bursts of automatic fire at police and journalist vehicles drawn up at that location, then drove off towards the government offices (Vidhan Bhawan) in South Mumbai.