Case against Sharma weak: Judge in verdict

The sessions court cleared former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma in the Lakhan Bhaiyya case last week.

The sessions court cleared former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma in the Lakhan Bhaiyya case last week and released copies of the judgment Saturday. Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya,killed on November 11,2006,was considered gangster Chhota Rajans close aide.

In the 1,668-page judgment,sessions judge V D Jadhavar called the prosecutions case against Sharma weak. Jadhavar in his verdict states: There is no evidence against Sharma to prove his involvement in any of the alleged offences or as regard to forming the alleged squad,killing the deceased or abducting the deceased and Anil Bheda.

Of the 22 accused,the court last week awarded life imprisonment to 21 persons including 12 policemen.

It is pertinent to note that the police personnel (accused in the case) from Versova and D N Nagar were not assigned the task of arresting or killing the deceased. They did not even have a warrant to arrest him, the order reads.

Sharma,according to the prosecution,led the encounter squad with 13 policemen including suspended senior inspector Pradeep Suryavanshi. The court,however,relied on the then Additional Commissioner of Police (western) and now special Inspector General (Amravati range) Bipin Biharis testimony to discard the claim. Bihari claimed no such squad was assigned by him. None of the witnesses has attributed any role to Sharma. Though some witnesses mentioned he was head of the alleged squad,it has got no force, the order reads.

Of the five bullets fired at Gupta,the prosecution claimed one was from Sharmas service rifle assigned to him in 2001.

However,court rejected prosecutions claim.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram