An advocate who worked relentlessly to ensure that those associated with the fake encounter of his brother are put behind bars is now seeking that his police protection is restored in light of the "grave danger" to his life.
"On my hard work & efforts, the persons accused of the murder of Ramnarayan Vishwanat Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya were convicted, except accused Pradeep Sharma. In this case, 13 policemen & eight civilians were convicted of various sentences, including life imprisonment," said Advocate Ramprasad Gupta, in a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey.
On Nov 11, 2006, Lakhan Bhaiya, an alleged associate of convicted mobster Chota Rajan, was killed in an encounter at Versova. After a lengthy trial, encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma was acquitted while others involved were convicted.
In his 3-page letter, Advocate Ramprasad Gupta reminded the Police Commissioner that the star witness in the case, Anil Bheda, who reportedly witnessed the fake encounter, was murdered in 2011 just 3 days prior to giving evidence in the Mumbai Sessions Court.
"This murder was committed while all accused were in custody, detained at Thane Central Prison. On the other hand, now almost all accused are on Covid parole," said the lawyer, adding that he has received number of threats to withdraw from the case or to be ready to face dire consequences.
Advocate Gupta, while elaborating on the threats, also pointed out that even a Magistrate was threatened by one of the accused during the course of the case.
He said that he had filed an appeal against Pradeep Sharma's acquittal while those who have been convicted have filed appeals too.
"All the appeals filed in the case are ready for final hearing & it can be taken up for final hearing on any date. They (accused) are also trying to get bail & I am opposing the same. I have every apprehension that the accused will not hesitate to murder me to save them & to get rid from the case," he said.
He added, "If anything happened to me, the accused persons in the fake encounter of Lakhan Bhaiya & the officer(s) who took hasty decision to withdraw my police protection at the crucial stage of final hearing of the appeal would be responsible."
Pradeep Sharma, now retired, is currently behind bars in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case & the death of businessman Mansukh Hiren.
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