“Former Mumbai ‘Encounter Specialist’ Pradeep Sharma Faces Life Sentence in 2006 Fake Encounter Case”
Former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma, once hailed as a notorious ‘encounter specialist’, has been handed a life sentence by the Bombay High Court for his involvement in the 2006 fake encounter killing of Ramnarayan Gupta, also known as Lakhan Bhaiya. The court’s decision comes as a significant blow to Sharma, overturning his earlier acquittal by a sessions court and underscoring the overwhelming evidence against him.
In a landmark verdict delivered on Tuesday, the division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Gauri Godse upheld Sharma’s conviction, deeming the previous acquittal “perverse” and “unsustainable.” Alongside Sharma, the court also upheld life imprisonment for 13 other accused, including 12 police personnel, while acquitting six civilians. The cases against one police officer and one civilian were abated due to their demise post-conviction.
The 12 police personnel whose life sentences were upheld by the High Court include Dilip Palande, Nitin Sartape, Ganesh Harpude, Anand Patade, Prakash Kadam, Devidas Sakpal, Pandurang Kokam, Ratnakar Kamble, Sandeep Sardar, Tanaji Desai, Pradeep Suryavanshi, and Vinayak Shinde.
The court’s decision revolved around the 2006 fake encounter case involving Ramnarayan Gupta, allegedly a member of the Chhota Rajan gang. It was alleged that Gupta was kidnapped from Vashi and subsequently killed in a staged encounter near Nana Nani Park in Versova. Ballistic reports supported the claim that Sharma fired the fatal shots during the encounter.
The court criticized the trial judge’s acquittal decision, highlighting overlooked evidence such as Sharma’s mobile phone usage, his continuous contact with co-accused, and the disclosure made by Anil Bheda to his wife Aruna Bheda. The court expressed profound dismay over the death of star witness Anil Bheda just days before his scheduled deposition in 2011, emphasizing the need for justice in his case.
Pradeep Sharma’s conviction marks a significant moment in Mumbai’s policing history, shedding light on the controversial practices of encounter specialists and the accountability of law enforcement personnel. As the court orders Sharma to surrender within three weeks, the case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding justice and the rule of law in society. Pradeep Sharma.
