Ramnarayan Gupta encounter: Name of advocate crops up
The probe into the killing of Ramnarayan Gupta takes a new turn after new evidence submitted in Bombay high court.
In a new twist to the alleged fake encounter of Ramnarayan Gupta, investigation is sought into the possible role of one of the advocates of the prime accused -- suspended encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma— in the disappearance of key witness Anil Bheda.
A transcript was submitted to the Bombay high court on Thursday of conversation between Bheda and an unidentified person, who police suspect is one of the abductors of Bheda, wherein the name of a junior advocate has cropped up. The junior advocate is assisting the counsel for Sharma.
The conversation was recorded on March 12, a day before Bheda went missing. It was submitted during the hearing of habeas corpus (produce person in court) petition filed by his wife, Aruna. Advocates for Aruna — counsel PM Pradhan and advocate Ramprasad Gupta, who is also Ramnarayan's brother - submitted the transcript and sought investigation by an independent agency.
Pradhan pointed out to the court that the person on phone had asked Bheda to get in touch with advocate Sultanbhai, who is assisting Rizwan Merchant.
Public prosecutor Pandurang Pol informed the court that they were awaiting results of the DNA analysis of a body found last month in Navi Mumbai. Police suspect that the body is that of Bheda.
Sultan was not available for comments but Merchant said that police had already recorded his statement.