In a landmark verdict, the Bombay High Court (HC) dealt a significant blow to former Mumbai police encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma on Tuesday, handing him a life sentence in connection with the 2006 fake encounter case involving Ramanaryan Gupta, alias Lakhan Bhayya, an alleged associate of gangster Chhota Rajan. The HC stated that the trial court overlooked overwhelming evidence against him. Alongside Sharma, the court upheld life imprisonment for 13 other accused, including 12 police personnel, while acquitting six civilians. Additionally, the cases against one police officer and one civilian were abated due to their demise post-conviction. The court ordered Sharma to surrender within three weeks.

The 12 police personnel whose life conviction was upheld by the HC include Dilip Palande, Nitin Sartape, Ganesh Harpude, Anand Patade, Prakash Kadam, Devidas Sakpal, Pandurang Kokam, Ratnakar Kamble, Sandeep Sardar, Tanaji Desai, Pradeep Suryavanshi, and Vinayak Shinde. The conviction was set aside for civilians Shailendra Dhoopnarayan Pandey alias Pinky, Akhil Shirin Khan alias Bobby, Manoj Mohan Raj alias Mannu, Sunil Ramesh Solanki, Mohamad Shaikh, Taka Moiddin Shaikh, and Suresh Manjunath Shetty.