A prominent leader and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA said that Sharma had reportedly approached the BJP government to reinstate his protege Vaze in 2016…reports Asian Lite News
As the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probes deep into the extortion racket, fresh evidence is pouring in on the close affiliation between suspended cop Sachin Vaze and his mentor, Pradeep Sharma, also known as the ‘encounter king’ of the Mumbai Police.
A prominent leader and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA told IANS that Sharma had reportedly approached the BJP government to reinstate his protege Vaze in 2016.
The BJP MLA, requesting anonymity, said: “The meeting took place at Hotel Leela Kempinski located near the Mumbai airport. Sharma, a well-known personality of the Mumbai Crime Branch known for executing innumerable police encounters, had personally come to the hotel for the said meeting. He requested a BJP leader to reinstate his protege and former subordinate Vaze in the police department. But the BJP government had outrightly rejected the request.
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“After Sharma’s efforts turned futile, the Shiv Sena’s top leadership approached the BJP for reinstating Vaze in the police department. This request was too rejected on the grounds that he was involved in court cases of serious nature.”
Meanwhile NIA sleuths are gathering more evidence against Sharma who allegedly provided logistic support to Vaze in planting the explosive-laden SUV near Antilia, the multi-storey residence of top industrialist Mukesh Ambani in South Mumbai.
During his questioning, Vaze has indicated that he procured gelatin sticks, used as explosives in this case, through Sharma’s contact, a revelation which obviously requires documentary evidence to be proved in court.
Commenting on Sharma’s close relations with Vaze, BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam said: “I do not wish to comment on the criminal nexus of these police officers… But I can at least confirm that Sharma was Vaze’s mentor, a fact known to everyone in the police.”
Sharma, who resigned from his high profile police job to contest the Assembly polls on a Shiv Sena ticket in 2019, runs an NGO, PS Foundation, which has blessings of several police officers including Vaze.
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