'Underworld may gun for Pradeep Sharma now'

MUMBAI: The biggest concern for inspector Pradeep Sharma could well be his own security. "He is likely to be targeted by the underworld, especially the Chhota Rajan gang,'' a senior IPS officer told TOI on Sunday.
As a dismissed police officer, Sharma is not entitled to police protection and has to fend for himself. Even while in service, Sharma had engaged private guards apart from a posse of armed policemen.Maybe the killing of Delhi's encounter specialist, Rajbir Singh, was still fresh in his mind.
The biggest threat to Sharma could come from the Chhota Rajan gang, which had his name high on its "hit list���. (Watch)Rajan had told TOI in the past that Sharma was once close to him and had even carried out a few jobs at his behest.
It is learnt that Rajan has given reams of information to security agencies about the nature of his ties with Sharma. Subsequently, Sharma is alleged to have grown closer to the Chhota Shakeel faction of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.
What angered Rajan was the arrest of his wife a few years ago for alleged extortion. The gangster alleged that his wife was arrested at the instance of Sharma, who was trying to get even with him. Rajan vowed revenge on those responsible for the arrest.
Sources said he kept in touch with gangsters strictly for professional reasons, which was to gather intelligence.
Sharma's summary dismissal is the outcome of a protracted inquiry instituted by the Intelligence Bureau over two years ago. The IB, which was keeping track of the Dawood gang and its links with terror outfits such as LeT, had recorded the conversations of Shakeel. Its sleuths were stunned when they found that Shakeel was in touch with Sharma.
A detailed dossier on Sharma was then prepared by the IB. This included his alleged proximity to the underworld, recordings of his conversations and details of his properties and investments. The crime branch, under additional commissioner Deven Bharti, conducted its own investigation and came out with voluminous information on the high-profile officer. This proved to be the proverbial last nail.
Sharma's biggest patron is currently holding a senior position in the police establishment and, till Saturday, this officer tried to stymie action against the inspector. From 3 pm on Saturday, the crime branch was trying to serve the sack order on Sharma, but he was tipped off about this move by his patron. It was only after midnight that the order could be served on him.
When home minister R R Patil ordered an inquiry into the charges of disproportionate assets levelled against Sharma by Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam, attempts were made to stall it. Patil gave the inquiry to additional commissioner Sadanand Date, but efforts were made to derail this move as well. balakrishnan.s@timesgroup.com