A significant development has occurred in the Kamlesh Prajapat encounter case in Rajasthan’s Barmer district. The Jodhpur Metropolitan Sessions Court has overturned a previous order by the trial court, dismissing all allegations of fake encounter and murder against 24 police personnel, including IPS officer Anand Sharma. The court ruled that Prajapat’s death was not a premeditated murder or a staged encounter, emphasizing that the police team acted in self-defense under challenging circumstances.
This verdict brings relief to Rajasthan Police officers and personnel who have been under legal scrutiny and mental stress for almost five years. The case stems from a raid conducted by a special police team at Prajapat’s residence in April 2021, based on intelligence linking him to illegal narcotics trafficking and criminal activities. Prajapat allegedly attempted to flee, driving his vehicle towards police personnel, prompting the commandos to open fire in self-defense, resulting in his death.
The encounter led to the recovery of cash, luxury vehicles, opium latex, and illegal firearms from Prajapat’s residence, indicating his alleged involvement in a criminal network. The incident sparked controversy, with Prajapat’s family and community disputing the police’s version and alleging a political conspiracy. Subsequent investigations and a CBI probe supported the police account, leading to a closure report clearing the involved police personnel and former minister Harish Chaudhary.
In a recent turn of events, Prajapat’s wife filed a petition challenging the CBI’s findings, leading to a murder case directive against the police personnel. However, the Jodhpur Metropolitan Sessions Court overturned this decision, reinstating the CBI’s closure report. The court concluded that the police acted in self-defense and dismissed the murder allegations, providing a legal victory for the officers involved.
