Fake encounter: cop who fired on sick leave

In another case against Suryavanshi,the Crime Branch had last year forwarded a confidential report to the Police Commissioner stating that Suryavanshi had threatened the metropolitan magistrate who had conducted a judicial probe into the encounter. The Crime Branch had also recommended that an FIR be lodged against Suryavanshi for the same.

“Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate R A Shaikh had complained to the High Court that she had been threatened by Suryavanshi. A copy of the complaint was marked to the Police Commissioner as well,who directed the Crime Branch to probe the matter. A probe was conducted and it was found that Suryavanshi had threatened the magistrate. The Crime Branch sent a report to the Police Commissioner recommending that an FIR be lodged against Suryavanshi,” said a Crime Branch officer on condition of anonymity.

According to the officer,the probe was handed over to the Crime Branch in early 2009,and the report was sent to then Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor in March. When contacted,Gafoor said,“We are not allowed to comment on such issues before the press.” Suryavanshi was unavailable for comment despite several attempts.

Gupta was killed in an encounter by the D N Nagar police on November 11,2006 at Nana Nani Park in Versova. The police claimed that Gupta was a close aide of Rajan and his lieutenant D K Rao. The police said that the D N Nagar team acted on a tip-off that Gupta was reaching the park to meet an associate. When Gupta fired at the team,he was killed in retaliatory fire,according to the police.

Following Gupta’s death,his brother Ramprasad claimed that Gupta and an associate Anil Bheda were picked up by the police seven hours prior to his death. He also claimed that he sent telegrams and faxes to the police commissioners of Mumbai,Navi Mumbai and Thane hours before the encounter,expressing fears that Gupta would be killed in a fake encounter.

After Ramprasad moved the Bombay High Court in December 2006,it ordered a judicial probe which was initiated by Shaikh. In August 2008,Shaikh submitted a confidential report to the High Court stating that there was substance to Ramprasad’s allegations and a case should be registered against the policemen. It was at this time that Suryavanshi allegedly began threatening Shaikh. During the judicial probe,Suryavanshi had told Shaikh that he had fired two rounds when Gupta fired at the police. However,the magistrate later unearthed evidence to show that Suryavanshi was present at the police station at the time of the encounter.