Mumbai: Decision on appeal against Pradeep Sharma's acquittal in three weeks

The Law and Judiciary (L&J) department of the state government is deciding whether or not it should file an appeal against the acquittal of ex-encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma in the 2006 fake encounter case in which Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya, an alleged Chhota Rajan aide, was killed.

Additional public prosecutor Hitendra Dedhia informed a division bench of justices PV Hardas and PN Deshmukh that the government will take three weeks’ time to decide whether or not the appeal should be filed.

This statement was made while hearing an appeal filed by Lakhan Bhaiya’s brother Ramprasad Gupta on August 7, challenging Sharma’s acquittal.

Gupta’s appeal states that the sessions judge has not given a reason as to why they found the prosecution’s case against Sharma weak. “Right from the constable to the ACP, 11 witnesses have said in their statement that they were working under Sharma’s instructions. How can the judge disbelieve 11 witnesses?” Gupta said in his appeal.

The high court has also admitted the appeals filed by nine of the 21 convicts in the case. Eight civilians and one constable had approached court, challenging their conviction by the sessions court.

Last month, the sessions court acquitted Sharma, observing that there is no direct or circumstantial evidence to show his involvement in the case. According to the sessions court, the prosecution’s evidence against Sharma was too “weak” to come to the conclusion that he had led the police team.

The sessions court had, however, convicted 21 persons, including 13 policemen, and sentenced them to life imprisonment on charges of murder.