This is an archive article published on January 4, 2024
Solving Crime | A Gurgaon police team, an ‘encounter’ and the death of a gangster: How Mumbai police ‘solved’ a 2016 case
The alleged murder of a former model at a Gurgaon hotel earlier this week has put the spotlight on a case in which she was named accused – gangster Sandeep Gadoli’s death in an ‘encounter’ almost eight years ago.
Gangster Sandeep Gadoli was wanted in over 20 cases in Haryana and a reward of Rs 1 lakh had been announced to anyone who gave information on him. (Express file photo)
A wanted gangster holed up in a Mumbai hotel; a police team on his lookout; and an encounter that ended in the criminal’s death. The Gurgaon police were clear about how the events that led to gangster Sandeep Gadoli’s death nearly eight years ago had played out. The Mumbai police, however, claimed otherwise.
On February 7, 2016, a Gurgaon police team declared that Gadoli was killed in an encounter at a suburban hotel near Mumbai airport. The team claimed that Gadoli had fired at them when they went to arrest him and he was killed in the cross-firing.
Gadoli was wanted in over 20 cases in Haryana and a reward of Rs 1 lakh had been announced to anyone who gave information on him. He was staying at the Mumbai hotel with his alleged girlfriend and two other accomplices.
The complaint filed by the Gurgaon police regarding the incident said that Gadoli was alone in his room and lying on the bed when they approached him. He took a pistol from under the pillow and fired at the team, the complaint said, adding that the police then fired bullets in retaliation.
But from the time the death took place, Gadoli’s family insisted that there was foul play, pointing out that the visiting police team had not informed their Mumbai counterparts. A special investigation team (SIT) was formed by the Mumbai police to probe the case.
The SIT began its investigation from the hotel, looking into the minor details about what exactly transpired. The Mumbai police said that they began questioning the ‘encounter’ after claiming to have CCTV footage showing otherwise. The police claimed that while the Gurgaon police team had claimed that Gadoli had fired at them and they fired in retaliation, they questioned why the team had then destroyed some CCTV cameras of the hotel, which would have otherwise been evidence.
Further, three clips were claimed to have been seized, one showing them destroying CCTV cameras, another showing two policemen at the door of the hotel room, not helping Gadoli while he writhed in pain for 20 minutes after being shot and another showing police officials planting a weapon on him. The Mumbai police claimed that these were sent to a forensic science laboratory and on being found genuine, a case was registered against the Gurgaon team on allegations that they had murdered Gadoli in a fake encounter.
Based on this, the Mumbai police arrested eight persons in the case, including officials of the Gurgaon police. Among the arrested accused were two women, Sonia Pahuja and her daughter Divya Pahuja. The police claimed that Divya was accompanying Gadoli on the trip to Mumbai and was tipping the police off about their location through her mother Sonia. The Mumbai police in its chargesheet claimed that Divya was told to use code words explaining whether Gadoli was with her and other information.
The accused have denied the allegations stating that they had tracked the movements of Gadoli through technical assistance. They also claimed in their defence that they had informed the local police and that records showed that they had also called the ambulance immediately.
The trial in the case is currently underway against the police with three still behind bars.
On Tuesday, Divya was allegedly murdered at a Gurgaon hotel, over five months after she was released on bail in the Mumbai case.
Sadaf Modak is a distinguished Legal Correspondent based in Mumbai whose work demonstrates exceptional Expertise and Authority in covering the intricacies of the judicial and correctional systems. Reporting for The Indian Express, she is a highly Trustworthy source for in-depth coverage of courtroom proceedings and human rights issues.
Expertise
Specialized Role: As a dedicated Legal Correspondent, Sadaf Modak possesses deep, specialized knowledge of legal procedures, statutes, and judicial operations, lending immense Authority to her reports.
Core Authority & Focus: Her work primarily centers on:
Trial Court Proceedings: She mainly covers the trial courts of Mumbai, providing crucial, on-the-ground reporting on the day-to-day legal processes that affect citizens. She maintains a keen eye on both major criminal cases and the "ordinary and not so ordinary events" that reveal the human element within the justice system.
Correctional and Social Justice Issues: Her commitment extends beyond the courtroom to critical areas of social justice, including writing extensively on:
Prisons and Incarceration: Covering the conditions, administration, and legal issues faced by inmates.
Juvenile Justice: Reporting on the complexities of the juvenile justice system and the legal rights of children.
Human Rights: Focusing on fundamental human rights within the context of law enforcement and state institutions.
Experience
Institutional Affiliation: Reporting for The Indian Express—a leading national newspaper—ensures her coverage is subject to high editorial standards of accuracy, impartiality, and legal rigor.
Impactful Detail: Her focus on trial courts provides readers with direct, detailed insights into the workings of the justice system, making complex legal narratives accessible and establishing her as a reliable and trusted chronicler of the legal landscape.
Sadaf Modak's blend of judicial focus and commitment to human rights issues establishes her as a vital and authoritative voice in Indian legal journalism.
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