Pradeep Sharma is a former police officer from Mumbai who is infamously known as the ‘encounter specialist’ of the Mumbai Encounter Squad. On 17 June 2021, Pradeep Sharma was arrested by the Mumbai police in connection with the Antilia Bomb scare case.
Wiki/Biography
Pradeep Sharma was born on 1 May 1962 (age 59 years; as of 2021) in Mathura, India. His zodiac sign is Taurus. Pradeep Sharma moved to Dhule, Maharashtra with his parents and he completed his formal education in the city itself.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 6′
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
Family & Relationship
Parents
Pradeep Sharma’s father was a professor of English in a local college in Dhule, Maharashtra.
Wife & Children
Pradeep Sharma got married to Swikriti Sharma, and the couple together has two daughters, Niketa and Ankita Sharma.
Pradeep Sharma with his wife and daughters
Career
After completing his education, Pradeep Sharma joined the Mumbai Police in 1983 as a sub-inspector. His first posting was at Mahim police station in Mumbai and then later, he was moved to the special branch in Juhu, Mumbai. His first encounter with the underworld took place on 6 May 1993, when he was sent to neutralize the underworld hitman Subash Makadwala. After a brief chase and gunfight, Subash Makadwalal was shot dead by a 9mm carbine that was used by Sharma. Over the years, Pradeep Sharma kept climbing through the ranks and went on to become the head of many of the police stations in other suburbs of Mumbai. He was appointed as the senior inspector in the crime intelligence unit of Mumbai police. In August 2008, the Maharashtra government dismissed Pradeep Sharma for his alleged involvement and contacts with criminals. However, on 7 May 2009, Sharma was reinstated in the service after the corruption charges against him were dropped. In 2019, Pradeep Sharma retired from his position in Anti Extortion Cell and contested elections from Nallasopra with Shiv Sena ticket.
Pradeep Sharma in his office after his reinstatement
Controversies
- On 31 August 2008, Pradeep Sharma was dismissed from his duty by the Maharashtra Government after a telephonic conversation between Sharma and the criminals was obtained by the police. In the recording, Sharma was found talking to criminals and about criminal activities while the intelligence bureau provided intelligence saying that Sharma was possibly involved in the activities of the Dawood Ibrahim gang. In his defense, Pradeep Sharma said that he was being framed by the Chhota Rajan gang. He was granted police protection round-the-clock by the court. On 7 May 2009, a state justice tribunal rejected the corruption charges against him and ordered his reinstatement in the force. On 23 August 2009, Sharma was transferred to the Thane Police Commissioner office by the orders from police headquarters. [1]http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-01/mumbai/27908920_1_chhota-rajan-gang-pradeep-sharma-crime-branch” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>The Times of India
- In 2010, Pradeep Sharma was again arrested for his involvement in the alleged fake encounter of the criminal Lakhan Bhaiyya. In an inquiry carried out by the police, it was found that the bullet that killed Lakhan Bhaiyya was shot from point-blank range. More than a dozen cops were arrested in the case and sent to prison; however, Pradeep Sharma’s acquittal was put forward in the Bombay High Court by the state and released from the case in 2013. Eight cops involved in the case were convicted and given life imprisonment. [2]The Indian Express
- On 17 June 2021, Pradeep Sharma was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case. A raid was conducted at his residence in Mumbai and the NIA officials seized a printer, a computer, and a laptop from Sharma’s residence. Before arresting Sharma, the NIA team has already arrested four other police officials in the case including Sachin Vaze, Riyazuddin Kazi, Sunil Mane, and former police constable Vinayak Shinde. [3]Hindustan Times
Facts/Trivia
- Pradeep Sharma is known as the encounter specialist of Mumbai Police with more than 312 shootouts in his record out of which 113 encounters were done by him.
- In 2018, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, around 12,000 women tied rakhi to the former cop and encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma.
A woman tying rakhi on Pradeep Sharma’s wrist
- In 2019, after serving the force for 35 years, Pradeep Sharma resigned from the force and joined the ruling party, Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. He contested elections from the Nalasopara seat for the Maharashtra assembly polls, but he lost to Kshitij Hitendra Thakur, a candidate of Bahujan Vikash Aghadi, by a margin of 43,729 votes.
Pradeep Sharma during the electoral campaign for the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections
- Pradeep Sharma’s alleged involvement with the notorious Dawood Ibrahim gang earned him the nickname of ‘Bombay’s Dirty Harry.’
- In 2014, Marathi film director Abhijit Panse directed the movie ‘Rege’ which became a commercial and critical success in India. The movie showed the active involvement of kids in criminal activities and the lead role of Pradeep Sharma was played by the Bollywood actor Mahesh Manjrekar.
- Several media sources have reported that Pradeep Sharma and Sachin Vaze are close to each other. Pradeep Sharma was Vaze’s mentor for a very long time, and the duo was also close to Param Bir Singh, who was posted as their reporting DCP in the ’90s.