The Special Investigation Team today got five-day custody of Pradip Sawant, who headed Mumbai’s dreaded ‘‘encounter squads’’.The former Mumbai deputy commissioner of police had been arrested on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the fake stamp paper scam under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).Dressed in a blue shirt and dark blue trousers, Sawant appeared calm when he was produced before the magistrate by a SIT team led by Superintendent C.H. Wakade. The mediapersons were waiting on the court premises since morning and the courtroom was packed when Sawant was produced there. Requesting the court for Sawant’s custody till January 12, Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare said the SIT had to arrest Sawant as he did not cooperate with the investigators.
