Mumbai — In a rare case, the special CBI court on Tuesday sentenced Ashwini Kumar Sharma, who posed as a CBI director, to three years in jail for duping several individuals, including filmmaker-actor Rakesh Roshan. Sharma was produced via video conferencing due to his 85% disability following an accident that left him unable to move.
Accomplice Convicted Earlier
Sharma’s accomplice, Rajesh Ranjan, was convicted in 2022. Sharma’s case had been separated due to his medical condition. On Tuesday, after verifying his identity, Judge AV Kharkar, in the presence of CBI prosecutor Sandeep Singh and defence advocates, delivered the verdict, holding Sharma guilty of impersonation and fraud.
Evidence of Fraud
The court stated that evidence conclusively established Sharma had impersonated a CBI officer. He received Rs.25 lakh from businessman Ismail Merchant, promising to register a CBI complaint. Sharma even escorted Merchant to the office of a deputy commissioner of police and introduced him to an officer, creating the illusion of official action.
CBI Arrest and Modus Operandi
Sharma was later arrested by the CBI. During interrogation, he admitted to cheating several people using the same method. The agency issued a public notice inviting victims to come forward, which led Merchant to approach investigators. Merchant, who runs Arsh Constructions, alleged that his partner committed fraud by transferring flats to family members, prompting him to seek Sharma’s supposed CBI help.
Court’s Verdict
The special court found Sharma guilty and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment for impersonation and cheating. Despite his medical disability, the court ruled that his fraudulent actions warranted strict punishment.
Leave a Reply