Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Despite his acquittal by a sessions court, the Bombay High Court convicted former Mumbai police officer Pradeep Sharma to life imprisonment in the 2006 fake encounter killing of Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya, an alleged member of the Chhota Rajan gang.
The court directed Pradeep Sharma, known as an "encounter specialist," to surrender within three weeks, following the conviction.
The conviction came after the state government appealed against Sharma's acquittal in July 2013, citing the trial court's finding as "perverse and unsustainable."
Pradeep Sharma was convicted of murder and other charges, with the bench observing that Lakhan Bhaiya was killed by police officers, who staged the encounter to appear genuine.
The bench upheld the conviction of 12 other policemen and a civilian, Hitesh Solanki, while acquitting six others involved in the case.
Emphasizing the misuse of authority, the bench stated that the police officers involved "killed Ramnarayan in cold blood," highlighting the importance of upholding the rule of law.
The bench underscored the need to curb deaths in police custody, stating that those involved should be held accountable and that there is no room for leniency.
Expressing concern over the lack of progress in investigating the murder of a prime witness, the bench urged the police to take the case seriously to restore faith in the justice system.
The bench criticized the trial court's acquittal of Pradeep Sharma, noting the weaknesses in ballistic evidence and the presence of other accused working under him.
The fake encounter of Lakhan Bhaiya occurred in 2006 near Nana Nani Park in Versova, triggering an FIR in 2009 after a special investigation team uncovered the staged encounter.