Mumbai News: Special CBI Court Sentences Fake CBI Officer To 3 Years In Jail For Duping Businessman And Rakesh Roshan

**Mumbai: ‘Fake CBI Director’ Ashwini Kumar Sharma Sentenced to Three Years in Jail**

In a rare instance, a special CBI court sentenced Ashwini Kumar Sharma, accused of impersonating a CBI director, to three years in jail. The verdict was pronounced through video conferencing on Tuesday.

### Impersonation and Fraudulent Activities

Sharma was charged with duping several individuals, including filmmaker-actor Rakesh Roshan, by posing as a high-ranking CBI officer. The court found him guilty of obtaining Rs 25 lakh from Ismail Merchant to get a complaint registered by the CBI. He even accompanied Merchant to the CBI headquarters and introduced him to an officer who promised to register the complaint.

### Accomplice Already Convicted

Sharma’s accomplice, Rajesh Ranjan, had already been convicted in 2022. Sharma’s case was heard separately as he had fallen into a coma after an accident and was reported to have 85% disability, rendering him immobile. Due to his condition, Sharma was produced via video conferencing from his residence.

### Court Proceedings

The special CBI judge AV Kharkar, in the presence of CBI prosecutor Sandeep Singh and defence lawyers, verified Sharma’s identity before delivering the verdict. The court noted that Ismail Merchant was escorted to the office of a Deputy Commissioner of Police as part of the fake proceedings.

### CBI Investigation and Arrest

During custodial interrogation, Sharma admitted to cheating multiple individuals using this modus operandi. Following this revelation, the CBI issued a public notice inviting victims to file complaints against him. Merchant was among those who approached the agency.

### Background of the Fraud Case

Ismail Merchant runs a construction business named Arsh Constructions in partnership with Fioz Tinwala. Around 2005-06, Merchant alleged that Tinwala transferred vacant flats into the names of his family members and associates, committing fraud. Seeking to initiate a case against Tinwala, Merchant was approached by Sharma who, pretending to be a CBI officer, offered assistance.

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