On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court handed down a life sentence to former Mumbai Police encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, affirming the life imprisonment given to 13 others, including 12 police personnel. This ruling pertains to the fake encounter killing of Lakhan Bhaiya in 2006, purportedly a former associate of the infamous gangster Chhota Rajan.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday has sentenced former Mumbai Police encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma to life imprisonment, overturning his previous acquittal in the notorious fake encounter case of Lakhan Bhaiya in 2006. This case has been a focal point of discussions on police conduct and legal accountability in India.
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The division bench, consisting of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse, delivered a verdict that has sent ripples through the legal and law enforcement communities. The court upheld the life sentences of 13 other individuals, including 12 police personnel, involved in the case, marking a significant moment in the history of legal proceedings against law enforcement officers in India.
The court’s decision was based on what it described as “overwhelming evidence” against the accused. The justices stated,
“All the circumstances led by the prosecution, right from the formation of the police squad, wrongful confinement, criminal abduction, and fake encounter, has been proved.”
This statement underscores the comprehensive nature of the evidence that swayed the court’s judgment.
The case of Lakhan Bhaiya, real name Ramnarayan Gupta, has been a contentious issue since the alleged gangster was killed in a staged police shooting in Versova in 2006. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) claimed that the encounter, purportedly led by Sharma, was a premeditated murder disguised as a police operation.
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The High Court criticized the initial trial’s outcome, particularly regarding Pradeep Sharma, stating that the trial judge “overlooked” crucial evidence, leading to a “perverse” and “unsustainable” acquittal.
“The circumstances point towards the guilt of Pradeep Sharma,”
the court remarked, highlighting the reversal of the trial court’s findings.
The court also lamented the tragic fate of the sole eyewitness, Anil Bheda, who was gruesomely murdered days before he could testify. The justices called it a “travesty of justice” and expressed hope that the perpetrators behind Bheda’s death would eventually face prosecution.
Pradeep Sharma, known as an ‘encounter specialist,’ has had a controversial career, with allegations of links to the underworld and involvement in numerous encounter killings. His life sentence in the Lakhan Bhaiya case marks a dramatic fall from grace for the once-celebrated police officer.
The judgment also sheds light on the broader issue of fake encounters and police misconduct. Special Public Prosecutor Rajiv Chavan argued that the case was not merely about abduction and murder but represented a
“grave case of officers belonging to the law enforcement agency… involved in a stage-managed, cold-blooded murder.”
This ruling by the Bombay High Court serves as a stern reminder of the importance of accountability and integrity within the police force. It emphasizes that those entrusted with upholding the law are not above it and must face the consequences of their actions. The case of Pradeep Sharma and the fake encounter of Lakhan Bhaiya will undoubtedly be remembered as a significant chapter in India’s legal and law enforcement history.
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