Sharma was dismissed in 2008 for alleged links with Dawood Ibrahim gang and for his alleged role in the Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter case.

Mumbai: Thane Police will soon have former senior inspector Pradeep Sharma in their ranks as the famed encounter specialist of the Mumbai Police comes out of suspension. Sharma on Wednesday reported to Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) Satish Mathur in uniform indicating that his reinstatement, said a senior IPS official on condition of anonymity.

Sharma, who will return as an Assistant Commissioner of Police, requested for a position in Thane. He retires in 2018. Sources said that Sharma joined as a part of the DG Control Room before he shifts to the anti-extortion cell of the Thane Police.

Sharma had joined Mumbai Police in 1983 and his last posting was at Dharavi police station in 2008. Sharma was dismissed in 2008 for alleged links with Dawood Ibrahim gang and for his alleged role in the Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter case.

Former gangster Ram Narayan Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiyya was a suspected aide of gangster Chhota Rajan.

Sharma was arrested in the Lakhan Bhaiyya case in 2010 along with 21 other police officials. While 13 cops were convicted in the case in July 2013, Sharma was however acquitted by the court.

Sharma’s re-entry was blocked by DGP Mathur, on the grounds that the state government’s appeal in the high court against his reinstatement was still pending. However, with the nod from the home department, Sharma is likely to join the Thane Police within a week.

Sharma, who has 113 encounter killings to his name including three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. Bollywood movie Ab Tak Chhappan is based on him.

Another encounter specialist sub-inspector Daya Nayak was also reinstated in 2016. Nayak has 83 encounters to his name.