Fake encounter of wanted gangster: Court rejects prosecution's plea to add 4 cops as accused
The Mumbai Police arrrested eight people, including five Gurgaon police personnel, in connection with the case during 2016-17, claiming that the encounter was staged on February 7, 2016, at a hotel near the Mumbai international airport.
Special public prosecutor Amin Solkar moved a plea, stating that witness deposition had shown the involvement of four more policemen. The plea said that the evidence showed that the two teams of the Gurgaon police were formed under the directions of the then DCP (crime) for the operation to trace Gadoli, who was wanted in many cases in Haryana.
While the officials of one of the teams, including the main accused Pradyuman Yadav who was leading the team, were arrested, the officer leading the other team and two others who were standing guard outside the hotel, were not named as accused. The Special Public Prosecutor also said that evidence pointed towards the involvement of the DCP and that the second team's officer was in touch with him before and after the operation.
The accused already facing trial in the case opposed the plea, stating that there was no fresh evidence brought to the fore by the prosecution and at this stage of the trial, when the case is nearing its end, the plea is only going to cause delay, with three of the accused behind bars for over nine years. The accused submitted that with no fresh material, there was no justification why the plea was being moved now at this belated stage.
While 195 witnesses were cited in the case, 43 were examined during the trial. Additional sessions judge Prashant Kale said the trial is time-bound by the Supreme Court and the prosecution was seeking adding four men as accused on charges of criminal conspiracy. It said that an application moved under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code (power to proceed against other persons appearing to be guilty of offence) needs evidence of a higher degree.
'There is no prima facie evidence againt other persons for using summons against them as prayed,' the court said in its order on July 5.
On Tuesday, the prosecution submitted that it was closing its evidence in the case. Now, the court will hear defence witnesses if the accused want to examine any, following which the final arguments will be heard.
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