In a significant ruling, a sessions court in Haryana acquitted five policemen involved in the alleged fake encounter of gangster Sandeep Gadoli, which occurred on February 7, 2016, in Andheri, Mumbai. The court determined that the policemen acted in self-defense, as Gadoli, a convict serving a life sentence and out on bail, fired at them first. The court highlighted that one officer suffered a grievous injury, establishing a reasonable apprehension that justified the use of self-defense. Additionally, the court pointed out procedural lapses in the collection of evidence and noted that there was no sanction for prosecuting the officers while they were performing their official duties. The ruling emphasizes the complexities surrounding encounters involving law enforcement and the legal protections afforded to public servants under the Criminal Procedure Code.