The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to challenge the acquittal order issued by a trial court in the murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar. The appeal will be filed in the Bombay High Court, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This development follows a special court in Mumbai acquitting all accused on Saturday in the 2006 murder case of Maharashtra Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar.
On June 3, 2006, Nimbalkar, aged 41, and his driver Samad Kazi were traveling from Mumbai to Osmanabad (now Dharashiv). Their car was intercepted by two hitmen at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai, who opened fire, killing both on the spot.
Among those facing trial was Nimbalkar's cousin and former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Member of Parliament Padamsinh Patil, now 86 years old.
Interestingly, Omraje Nimbalkar, the son of the deceased, is one of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs who have reportedly formed a breakaway group and are in contact with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Bombay High Court had ordered the transfer of the investigation to the CBI. Following a thorough probe, the CBI filed a chargesheet on August 20, 2009, and a supplementary chargesheet on June 4, 2010, against nine accused, including Padamsinh Patil. During the trial, one accused turned approver.
CBI sources stated that the agency had presented strong evidence against the accused and will therefore challenge the trial court's judgment in the Bombay High Court.
The accused include Padamsinh Patil, former state home minister and stepbrother of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, along with Latur-based businessman Satish Mandade, former BJP corporator and retired state excise inspector Mohan Shukla, Parasmal Jain, former excise inspector Shashikant Kulkarni, BSP worker Kailash Yadav, and alleged shooters Dinesh Tiwari, Pintu Singh, and Chote Pandey.
On June 19, Shiv Sena (UBT) 'rebel' MP Omraje Nimbalkar stated that he would announce his next step only after the trial court's verdict in his father's murder case.
