In a major decision, the Bombay High Court has overturned the acquittal of former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma in an 18-year-old fake encounter case and sentenced him to life in prison. The court also upheld the life sentence for 13 other accused, including 12 policemen, in the killing of an alleged member of a mafia syndicate. The judges criticized the trial court's decision to acquit Sharma, stating that overwhelming evidence proves his involvement in the fake encounter. The court also expressed concern over the gruesome death of the sole eyewitness in the case, hoping for justice in his murder.
Bombay High Court Upholds Life Sentences in Fake Encounter Case
In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has overturned the acquittal of former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma in an 18-year-old fake encounter case and sentenced him to life in prison. Additionally, the court upheld the life sentences for 13 other accused, including 12 policemen, involved in the killing of alleged mafia syndicate member Lakhan Bhayyaji Salgaonkar.
Background
On March 11, 2003, Salgaonkar was killed in an encounter by a team of Mumbai Police officers led by Sharma. The police claimed that Salgaonkar was a wanted criminal who fired upon them, forcing them to return fire in self-defense. However, eyewitnesses raised doubts about the official version of events, alleging that Salgaonkar was unarmed and had been killed in cold blood.
A trial court acquitted Sharma and the other accused in 2014, citing lack of evidence. However, the prosecution appealed the verdict in the Bombay High Court.
High Court's Ruling
In its judgment, the High Court criticized the trial court's acquittal of Sharma, stating that overwhelming evidence proved his involvement in the fake encounter. The court highlighted the testimonies of eyewitnesses, forensic evidence, and discrepancies in the police statements.
The court also noted that the sole eyewitness to the encounter, Ramnarayan Gupta, was gruesomely murdered in 2017 while the trial was ongoing. The court expressed its hope that justice would be served in Gupta's murder investigation.
Top 5 FAQs
1. What is a fake encounter?
A fake encounter occurs when law enforcement officers kill a person under the guise of self-defense or an alleged crime, while actually engaging in an extrajudicial killing.
2. Why was Pradeep Sharma convicted?
Sharma was convicted based on overwhelming evidence, including eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence, and discrepancies in police statements, which proved his involvement in the fake encounter.
3. What are the implications of the Bombay High Court's ruling?
The ruling sends a strong message that fake encounters will not be tolerated and that law enforcement officers will be held accountable for their actions.
4. What is the status of the investigation into the murder of Ramnarayan Gupta?
The investigation into Gupta's murder is ongoing, and the court has expressed hope that justice will be served.
5. How common are fake encounters in India?
Fake encounters remain a serious problem in India. Human rights organizations have estimated that several thousand people have been killed in fake encounters in recent years.
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