‘Key witness told me about brother’s death’

The sessions court on Tuesday continued the deposition of Ramprasad Gupta, the complainant and brother of Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya who was killed in an alleged fake encounter in 2006.

The sessions court on Tuesday continued the deposition of Ramprasad Gupta, the complainant and brother of Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya who was killed in an alleged fake encounter in 2006.

HT Image

Gupta, who is also an advocate, alleged that prime witness Anil Bheda had confirmed that his brother was killed by cops in a fake encounter. Bheda was picked up with Lakhan Bhaiya on November 11, 2006 .

“I went to Bheda’s Vashi residence after he returned in December 2006. I asked him to submit an affidavit in the Bombay high court as he was a witness to the murder of my brother. But Bheda refused,” said Gupta.

Defence counsel Harshad Ponda objected claiming that the statement was hearsay. “How can he speak for Bheda who is not alive? It cannot tantamount to evidence,” he said.

The court noted the objection following which Gupta was permitted to bring Bheda’s statement on record.

The prosecution told the court that prior to his disappearance on March 13 this year, Bheda had received several threatening calls.

The police discovered charred remains of his body near a farmhouse in Manor a day later.