The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2006 fake encounter killing case of gangster Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakkhan Bhaiya.
A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra took note of the Maharashtra government lawyer’s submission, stating that the state had no objections to Sharma being granted bail.
Previous Hearing
Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sidharth Luthra represented Sharma, while senior advocate R Basant represented the complainant and opposed the bail application of the former officer. Previously, on April 8, the apex court had ruled that Sharma need not surrender until further orders to serve the life sentence handed to him in the case.
Bombay High Court
Upon admitting Sharma’s appeal against the March 19 Bombay High Court verdict, the bench stated, “It is a case of reversal of acquittal by the high court, where the appeal is filed by the appellant. The statutory appeal is admitted for hearing. Issue notice on bail plea. The high court has directed him for surrender in three weeks. Till the next date of hearing, he need not surrender.”
