Pradeep Sharma
Encyclopedia
Pradeep Sharma is a serving officer
in the police force
of Mumbai
, India. Sharma attained notability as an "encounter specialist" with the Mumbai Encounter Squad
and was involved with the deaths of as many as 112 criminals. On 31 August 2008 he was dismissed from the Mumbai police on charges of corruption but was reinstated on 9 May 2009 after he was proven innocent of those charges.
in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
before moving to the state of Maharashtra
. His father was a professor of English in a
degree college in the town of Dhulia. Pradeep Sharma was born in the Indian state of Uttar pradesh and completed his education from primary to MSc in Dhulia,Maharastra. He joined the State Police Service in 1983 as a sub inspector. He was first posted to the Mahim police station in Mumbai
and was moved to the special branch in Juhu, Mumbai
. Rising through the ranks, he went on to head the police stations in other suburbs of Mumbai
, and became a senior Inspector in the crime intelligence unit of the Mumbai police
. His career spanned 25 years, during which he earned fame for the successful "encounter killings" of as many as 112 criminals, including notorious crime bosses and terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba
. He was one of the most famous officers of the Mumbai Encounter Squad.
At the height of his exploits, Sharma once told an international news agency:
. He was later accused of corruption, using extortion tactics and making threats to businessmen in cases of land disputes. In the mid-1990s, Sharma is believed to have aligned himself with the criminal organization of Dawood Ibrahim
. He was accused of interfering in the CID
investigation of the custodial death of one Khwaja Yunus, but was later exonerated. While heading the Amaravati Police Station, Sharma was again accused of corruption and involvement in the real-estate mafia and extortion rackets. Media reports quoted a police officer saying that Sharma had amassed as many as INR 300 crores in illegal wealth due to his corrupt activities.
provided intelligence implicating Sharma in the activities of the Dawood Ibrahim gang. However, Sharma is amongst several officers of the encounter squad facing official inquiries. Sharma professed his innocence, described his dismissal as wrongful and accused the Chhota Rajan gang of framing him. Police and media sources speculate that Sharma may be targeted by the Chhota Rajan gang, although dismissed officers are not entitled to police protection. Several media sources have nicknamed him "Bombay's Dirty Harry."
However, on the 7th of May, 2009, Sharma was reinstated to the Mumbai city force of the Maharashtra Police after a state justice tribunal set up to study the allegations rejected the corruption charges against him and ordered his instant reinstatement.
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
in the police force
Mumbai Police
The Mumbai Police is the police force of the city of Mumbai, India. It has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai. The department's motto is ""...
of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India. Sharma attained notability as an "encounter specialist" with the Mumbai Encounter Squad
Mumbai Encounter Squad
The Mumbai Encounter Squad was an unofficial group within the police force of Mumbai, which killed criminals in "encounters".It consisted of several high-profile officers from the Detection Unit. The squad primarily dealt with members of the Mumbai underworld and other criminal gangs and carried...
and was involved with the deaths of as many as 112 criminals. On 31 August 2008 he was dismissed from the Mumbai police on charges of corruption but was reinstated on 9 May 2009 after he was proven innocent of those charges.
Biography and career
Pradeep Sharma's family was originally from AgraAgra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
before moving to the state of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. His father was a professor of English in a
degree college in the town of Dhulia. Pradeep Sharma was born in the Indian state of Uttar pradesh and completed his education from primary to MSc in Dhulia,Maharastra. He joined the State Police Service in 1983 as a sub inspector. He was first posted to the Mahim police station in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and was moved to the special branch in Juhu, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Rising through the ranks, he went on to head the police stations in other suburbs of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, and became a senior Inspector in the crime intelligence unit of the Mumbai police
Mumbai Police
The Mumbai Police is the police force of the city of Mumbai, India. It has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai. The department's motto is ""...
. His career spanned 25 years, during which he earned fame for the successful "encounter killings" of as many as 112 criminals, including notorious crime bosses and terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba
Lashkar-e-Toiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba – also transliterated as Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Lashkar Taiba or LeT – is one of the largest and most active militant Islamist terrorist organizations in South Asia, operating mainly from Pakistan.It was founded by Hafiz Muhammad...
. He was one of the most famous officers of the Mumbai Encounter Squad.
At the height of his exploits, Sharma once told an international news agency:
Underworld links
Pradeep Sharma is accused of having maintained close ties with various criminal gangs during his 25 years in the police. Upon joining the Chandan "chowky" (police station), Sharma allegedly kidnapped a local businessman with a fellow officer for extortion. He developed close links with the criminal organisation of Chhota RajanChhota Rajan
Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan is the boss of a major crime syndicate based in India. He is a former key aide and lieutenant of Dawood Ibrahim. Starting as a petty thief and bootlegger working for Rajan Nair, also known as Bada Rajan . Chhota Rajan took over the reins of Bada Rajan's...
. He was later accused of corruption, using extortion tactics and making threats to businessmen in cases of land disputes. In the mid-1990s, Sharma is believed to have aligned himself with the criminal organization of Dawood Ibrahim
Dawood Ibrahim
Dawood Ibrahim , also known as Dawood Ebrahim, and Sheikh Dawood Hassan, is the head of the organized crime syndicate [[D-Company]] in Mumbai. He is currently on the wanted list of Interpol for organised crime and counterfeiting. He was No. 4 on the Forbes' World's Top 10 most dreaded criminals...
. He was accused of interfering in the CID
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
investigation of the custodial death of one Khwaja Yunus, but was later exonerated. While heading the Amaravati Police Station, Sharma was again accused of corruption and involvement in the real-estate mafia and extortion rackets. Media reports quoted a police officer saying that Sharma had amassed as many as INR 300 crores in illegal wealth due to his corrupt activities.
Dismissal and Subsequent Reinstatement
On 31 August 2008 the Maharashtra government dismissed Pradeep Sharma for involvement and contacts with criminals. Police obtained telephonic interceptions of Sharma's conversations with criminals and about criminal activities while the Intelligence BureauIntelligence Bureau (India)
The Intelligence Bureau also known as IB is India's internal intelligence agency and reputedly the world's oldest intelligence agency. It was recast as the Central Intelligence Bureau in 1947 under the Ministry of Home Affairs...
provided intelligence implicating Sharma in the activities of the Dawood Ibrahim gang. However, Sharma is amongst several officers of the encounter squad facing official inquiries. Sharma professed his innocence, described his dismissal as wrongful and accused the Chhota Rajan gang of framing him. Police and media sources speculate that Sharma may be targeted by the Chhota Rajan gang, although dismissed officers are not entitled to police protection. Several media sources have nicknamed him "Bombay's Dirty Harry."
However, on the 7th of May, 2009, Sharma was reinstated to the Mumbai city force of the Maharashtra Police after a state justice tribunal set up to study the allegations rejected the corruption charges against him and ordered his instant reinstatement.