Brother demands scientific test of body in encounter case

Mumbai, Nov 21 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today allowed the state to find out by tomorrow if 'histopathology' test could be conducted on the body of alleged Chota Rajan gang member Lakhan Bhaiya, killed in an encounter on November 11.

A Division Bench comprising Justices S B Mhase and S R Sathe were hearing a petition filed by the younger brother of Lakhan, alleging it to be a clear case of cold blooded murder by the police.

Advocate Shyam Marvadi, on behalf of the petitioner, submitted that the test would bring to light information whether the encounter was fake or not.

The court was told that Lakhan had been picked up by the police hours before the encounter.

In fact, the petitioner had sent telegrams and faxes to higher police authorities and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, an hour after they were picked up, informing them about the incident.

However, Chief Public Prosecutor Satish Borulkar submitted the police had trapped him after they recieved a tip-off that Lakhan had come to meet one of his informers near Nana Nani Park at Versova, Andheri.

When the police asked him to surrender, he fired two shots towards them and in retaliation police had shot back leading to his death.

According to the petitioner, Lakhan was earning his living by way of working as a estate agent in Vashi and had no connection with underworld don Chota Rajan.

The case will come up for further hearing tomorrow.

UNI ARM MJ/OBB PA ND1904