API Arvind Sarvankar, who was recently convicted in the Lakhan Bhaiyya fake encounter case along with 13 other policemen, died of a terminal illness at JJ Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday. He was on life support system and was failing to respond to treatment, sources from the Taloja prison and JJ Hospital said.
Additional DG (prisons) Meeran Borwankar confirmed the development, but refused to comment further. According to an official from Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai, Sarvankar was first admitted to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Hospital (NMMC) and then shifted to JJ Hospital on September 4 after his condition deteriorated.
Dr T.P. Lahane, dean, JJ Hospital said, “He was struck with paralysis when admitted and we had to put him on a life support system. We diagnosed him with Gullian-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare medical condition that affects the nerves in the brain and the spinal cord, consequently leading to paralysis. He was also experiencing severe breathlessness and failing to respond to medicines and treatment.” GBD affects only one or two persons amongst every 1,00,000 individuals.
Lakhan Bhaiyya, believed to be a close aide of underworld don Chota Rajan, was killed in a fake encounter in 2006. The encounter was led by senior PI Pradeep Sharma, the prime accused, who was the case’s only acquittal.