A SPECIAL court on Thursday directed the jail superintendent of Yerwada Central Prison to obtain a report from Sassoon Hospital on whether retired ACP Pradeep Sharma needs further hospitalisation. This comes after National Investigation Agency (NIA) claimed that the former cop, now an accused in the Antilia terror scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case, is prolonging his stay at the hospital. The NIA also submitted that during his hospital stay, Sharma was meeting his family and others, including one wanted accused, one convict in the Lakhan Bhaiya encounter case and acquitted in 2013, as well as a witness in the Antilia case. In January, the NIA had made a similar plea calling for a medical report on Sharma, claiming that he was in hospital without due requirement. The court had then directed that a panel of doctors be constituted by Sassoon Hospital to submit a report on Sharma’s medical condition. Upon receiving the report on January 27, the court had directed Sharma to be discharged and taken back to jail as the panel said he required no further hospitalisation. In March, he was again admitted to the hospital and a report was called for again by the court, after which he was discharged, and then readmitted again in April. NIA through its special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves submitted to court on Thursday that Sharma, who was arrested in June 2021, had stayed in hospital first for 190 days, then again for 26 days and has been in hospital for 43 days. The agency also sought a list of visitors he had received, claiming that a convict, a wanted accused and a witness were among those who met him in hospital. “Jail Superintendent of Yerwada Jail Pune is directed to obtain a report from Sasoon Hospital in respect of necessity for hospitalisation of accused No. 10 (Sharma) and the list of visitors who have visited the accused in the hospital, and send it to this court as early as possible,” special judge AM Patil said in his order. The NIA had submitted that a report is needed on whether Sharma needs further hospitalisation, how long does he require treatment and the list of his visitors. Sharma was initially lodged at Taloja Central Jail. He had then sought to be shifted to Thane jail citing security concerns but the court said it was the decision of jail authorities. He was shifted to Yerwada jail in 2022. NIA opposes bail to dismissed cop Sachin Waze Mumbai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) while opposing bail to dismissed Mumbai Police cop Sachin Waze has said that as a former Crime Branch officer, it will not be difficult for him to figure out who the protected witnesses are and could tamper with evidence. Waze had in April filed for bail on merits in connection with the Antilia terror scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case, for which he was arrested in March 2021. NIA in its reply filed before the special court on Thursday said that based on its evidence, the chain of circumstances prima facie point an "unerring finger Sachin Waze's role as main conspirator".
