Having summoned an apparently nonexistent officer from the National Security Guard (NSG), the Mumbai Police Crime Branch will write again to the NSG for details on the officer who actually led the three-day operation at Trident-Oberoi Hotels during the 26/11 attack.

The police had initially sent a summons to Captain R K Sharma, who supposedly led the NSG operation, only to be informed that no such officer works with the agency.

The crime branch will now ask for name, designation and address of the officer-in-charge before seeking his deposition.

“As per the court’s direction, we have sought details so that the summons can be issued again. The earlier information had been given by a witness who was with the NSG during the operation. They have denied what we were told and we have no information on the officer,” a senior Crime Branch official said.

Sharma’s name had cropped up in the deposition of Rajesh Kadam, assistant security officer of Trident-Oberoi Hotels, who had helped the NSG in the operation. On Monday morning, the NSG faxed a letter informing the Crime Branch that it had checked all its records and found no officer by such a name, hence the summons could not be executed.

The special court had then directed the prosecution to file a report by Tuesday with exact details of the officer in charge. With the information vague, the report has not yet been filed.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said, “We have written to the NSG and expect they would give us the information in a couple of days after receiving our letter. Then the officer who led the operation can be called again to depose.”