A Mumbai sessions court on Friday acquitted all eight accused, including five Haryana Police personnel, in the alleged fake encounter killing of Gurugram-based gangster Sandeep Gadoli, bringing a temporary legal closure to a case that had raised serious questions about policing, criminal networks, and encounter killings.Gadoli was shot dead on February 7, 2016, at a hotel near Mumbai’s international airport during an operation by a Gurugram police team. At the time, police claimed the encounter was genuine, stating that Gadoli—wanted in over 40 criminal cases, including multiple murders—opened fire at officers when they attempted to arrest him, forcing them to retaliate in self-defence.However, the incident soon spiralled into controversy after Gadoli’s family alleged that the killing was staged. They claimed the encounter was the result of a criminal conspiracy involving police officials and rival gangster Binder Gujjar’s brother, Manoj. Refusing to accept Gadoli’s body, the family approached the Bombay High Court, which ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe by the Mumbai Police.The SIT’s findings cast doubt on the police version. Investigators cited forensic evidence and CCTV footage suggesting that Gadoli was left unattended for nearly 20 minutes after being shot and that attempts were made to tamper with evidence, including planting a weapon and damaging cameras. Based on these findings, Mumbai Police charged several members of the Gurugram police team, led by Sub-Inspector Pradyuman Yadav, along with other accused.Among those booked were Gadoli’s alleged girlfriend, Divya Pahuja, and her mother, Sonia, whom investigators accused of passing information about his movements to police through coded communication. Rival gangster Binder Gujjar was also named in the conspiracy. All accused denied the allegations, maintaining that Gadoli was tracked through legitimate surveillance and that due procedure was followed.Despite years of investigation and trial, the court ultimately acquitted all accused, citing a lack of conclusive evidence to prove the charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.Gadoli himself was one of North India’s most notorious gangsters, operating across Gurugram and southern Haryana. With nearly three dozen criminal cases against him, he had built a network spanning extortion, property dealings, and illicit trade. His violent rivalry with Binder Gujjar’s gang had triggered a series of retaliatory killings in the region.The case also saw subsequent twists, including the 2024 murder of Divya Pahuja in a Gurugram hotel after her release on bail, underlining the long shadow of the Gadoli gang rivalry.While the acquittal closes the case legally for now, it leaves lingering questions over the events of that February night in 2016 and the thin line between law enforcement and alleged excess.