Tainted cop Pradeep Sharma withdraws bail plea

Dismissed police inspector and 'encounter specialist' Pradeep Sharma, arrested for allegedly killing suspected Chhota Rajan aide Ram Narayan Gupta in a fake encounter, on Friday withdrew his bail application from the Bombay High Court.

Senior counsel Ram Jethmalani, who appeared for Sharma, said his client may move to the sessions court again.

A special investigation team, appointed by the high court, had arrested Sharma on January 8

this year.

Gupta was killed in a police encounter in November 2006 in suburban Versova. His brother, advocate RV Gupta, moved the court alleging that the police had killed his brother after taking him into custody.

The court ordered a magisterial inquiry into the case in February 2008. The inquiry report said Gupta was murdered and the court formed the SIT to probe the case. Sharma is accused of orchestrating the encounter along with junior police officers.