The first time I saw it was from an Indian colleague in 2009, and I've only ever seen it in emails or instant messages from Indian colleagues since.
An example:
The document is dated 25/06/08/ Is there any updation to the same?
Another:
could u tell me the command for
executing the unit test from command
line or any link or ppt .. for the
same
As a British English speaker from the UK, I found it a bit strange at first, but I've got used to it now. However, I wouldn't advise using "the same" in this way as it might not be understood by people not familiar with it. Instead, when the context is clear, use a simple "it" or "them". If the context isn't clear, state explicitly what you mean.
So I would change your (updated) example:
I need the documents for the meeting. Could you please send me the same as soon as possible.
To:
I need the documents for the meeting. Please could you send them to me as soon as possible?
Also note the second sentence is a question, so ends with a question mark.
This omission of syntax in informal speech (and especially emails) is quite common and I would hesitate to call it ungrammatical. It is an example of ellipsis:
ellipsis |iˈlipsis|
noun ( pl. -ses |-sēz|)
the omission from speech or writing of a word or words that are superfluous or able to be understood from contextual clues. [NOAD]
The point is, you did understand from the context of the sentence what the sender intended. Certainly you would not want to write that way in formal prose, but the criteria I would use to judge the usage here would be
- Is the meaning readily understood?
- Does the text need to convey good communication skills?
If you can answer yes to the first and no to the second, then you don't have to worry about using ellipsis in the communication.
Best Answer
Subject at all times to anything @John Lawler may say, I think it is because the verb "provide" is ditransitive.
Please provide the documents, and Please provide me with the documents are both correct. (But Please provide me the documents is NOT correct).
In the first instance the direct object is "the documents", but in the second, where "me" becomes the direct object then "documents" is indirect and hence requires a preposition -"with".