Lakhan Bhaiyya case: SC directs HC to decide on accused cops' appeal in 6 weeks

The 11 policemen convicted in the Lakhan Bhaiyya encounter case got partial relief from the Supreme Court on Friday after it asked the Bombay High Court to decide on their appeal within six weeks. The accused will have to be in jail until then.

Directing the HC to wind up the case within the stipulated period, the apex court asked it to "not get influenced" by its own interim order cancelling the suspension of the life sentence handed down to the convicted cops, who were made to return to prison by the HC on Monday.

A division bench of justices Pinaki Ghosh and Amitava Roy dismissed the special leave petition challenging the HC interim order.

On December 21, the HC had stayed the controversial order passed by the home department suspending the life sentence of the officers for six months. The HC had admitted the petition challenging the state's order and directed the policemen to surrender by January 4.

On January 4, an application by the officers seeking hearing of their plea for extension of time to surrender was rejected by the HC and the SC. Later in the evening, the officers surrendered before the Thane jail authorities.

Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiyya, an alleged aide of underworld don Chhota Rajan, was shot dead on November 11, 2006, at Versova. A trial court had in July 2013 had acquitted prime accused encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, who has 112 encounters to his 'credit'. It convicted 21 others, including 13 policemen and eight civilians, in the case.