THE HUNTERS BECOME THE HUNTED

On June 18, Pradeep Sharma, encounter specialist-turned politician, was produced in a special court by officers of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). This was in connection with the murder of a businessman, Mansukh Hiran, a prime witness in the ‘Bombgate’ case, where a vehicle with explosives inside was found abandoned near Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s residence on February 25.

- Kiran D. Tare

The NIA was seeking Sharma’s custody, but the 59-year-old former police officer, who has weathered many a storm in his controversial career, put up a spirited defence. His lawyer, Sudeep Pasbola, was present in the courtroom but Sharma sought permission from the judge to speak. “Lok kaamasathi majhyakade yetat. Likes milavanyasathi majhyabarobarcha photo social media var taaktaat (People approach me for help. A photo with me gets them more ‘likes’ on social media),” he told the court in chaste Marathi while trying to suggest that co-accused Santosh Shelar (who has allegedly named Sharma as a conspirator in the Hiran murder case) was trying to divert attention by using his name because he was “a celebrity”. Shelar was allegedly present in the red Tavera car in which Hiran was killed on March 4. A close confidant of Sharma, Shelar has been in regular touch for the past 12 years.

Hiran was found dead on March 5 in the Thane creek at Mumbra, 45 km north of Mumbai. The NIA claims Sharma hatched the ‘conspiracy’ and later recruited two history-sheeters, Manish Soni and Satish Mothkuri, to get rid of Hiran. The Thane-based businessman was reportedly smothered to death in a running car, a red Tavera.

Incidentally, four months after ‘Bombgate’ broke in February, there is still no clarity on the motive. What we know is that Sachin Vaze, a police officer who has since been dismissed and ex-colleague of Sharma, planted the explosives. Hiran, a friend of Vaze’s, was allegedly killed because his light green Scorpio was used in the operation and they didn’t want it traced back to them.