‘Missing prime witness got threat calls’

Anil Bheda, the missing prime witness in the fake encounter case of alleged Chhota Rajan gang member — Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya, got threatening calls from Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai and Nashik

Anil Bheda, the missing prime witness in the fake encounter case of alleged Chhota Rajan gang member — Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiya, got threatening calls from Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai and Nashik, said a report submitted by additional public prosecutor YS Shinde in the Bombay high court on Monday.

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The report stated the steps taken by the Navi Mumbai police to trace the witness. Shinde said the police have found new leads in the case and sought 10 additional days to send a team to the places concerned and verify the information received.

The report was submitted in accordance with earlier directions of the high court after Bheda’s wife, Aruna, filed a habeas corpus petition seeking directions to the police to produce her husband before the court. Her counsel, VG Pradhan said Bheda had received several threatening calls out of which 11 recorded conversations were provided to the police.

“We have located all the numbers from where calls were made and all of them are public call offices,” the officer added. The court gave the Navi Mumbai police two more weeks to trace the missing witness. HTC