Ramprasad Gupta, brother of Lakhan Bhaiya, who was allegedly killed in a fake encounter by former policeman Pradeep Sharma in 2006, has decided to campaign against the latter in the Assembly elections on October 21. Mr. Sharma, who joined the Shiv Sena recently, is set to contest on the party ticket from Nallasopara.
Mr. Sharma, who opted for voluntary retirement, was arrested in 2009 in connection with the killing of Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya, a suspected Chhota Rajan aide, along with 13 policemen. Mr. Sharma was acquitted in 2013 after he spent four years in Thane Central Jail.
Mr. Gupta said he is going to raise awareness of Mr. Sharma’s ‘wrong doings’ among the masses. “Mr. Sharma built his kingdom with the help of people who were convicted in the 2006 case. A king cannot be a king if he does not support his people. He luckily got acquitted in the case but the families of the constables, who got convicted, continue to suffer. In spite of being well-to-do financially, he never once helped them. How will he stand by the people of his constituency when he failed to stand by his own people,” Mr. Gupta asked.
A lawyer by profession, Mr. Gupta termed the former encounter cop the prime accused in the Lakhan Bhaiya case. “Everyone got convicted but him. Along with me, the State government too has challenged his acquittal and the matter is sub-judice. The irony is in spite of the Sena being part of the government, it has let Mr. Sharma into its fold.”
Mr. Gupta further said he is willing to help any political party that approaches him to spread the word against Mr. Sharma. “However, I will not become a puppet in the hands of that party and I will continue to fight my own battle.”
Speaking of the impact Mr. Gupta’s campaign would have, Mr. Sharma said he is free to do whatever pleases him. “His brother was a gangster and in the elections too, I will be fighting against a gangster.”
Mr. Sharma said a gangster’s brother will always campaign for a gangster. “Mr. Gupta will deny alliance with the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) but they are all Dawood’s fellows. The result of the elections will prove everything that has to be proven.”
Nallasopara BVA MLA Kshitij Thakur said he believes in his work and does not rely on outsiders for support. “Our party goes to people’s houses on the basis of our past work and future promises. We do not get into other nuisance that most candidates get into.”
Mr. Thakur said everybody has a tongue and an opinion, and that only time will tell how much value it holds.