A special court in Mumbai is set to deliver its verdict on Saturday in the 2006 double murder case of Congress leader Pavanraje Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Kazi. The judgment, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed as the special judge was still dictating it.
Accused and Allegations
The case involves nine accused, including former Maharashtra minister and senior NCP functionary Padamsinh Patil (86), who is the brother of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar. Patil is alleged to have orchestrated the murder of his cousin, Nimbalkar, due to political and business rivalries. Seven others are also standing trial. All accused, except one, are out on bail and were present in court on Tuesday. Patil arrived in a wheelchair, with an ambulance waiting outside. One accused turned approver and deposed as a prosecution witness.
Trial and Evidence
During the trial, 128 witnesses deposed, of whom 29 were declared hostile. CBI's special public prosecutor Ejaz Khan cited the consistency of the approver's account, statements of other witnesses, and documentary evidence to seek conviction. Nimbalkar was shot dead in his car on the Mumbai-Pune expressway on June 3, 2006. The prosecution attributed the motive to Nimbalkar's opposition to the management of Terna Sugar Factory and his contesting against Patil in the 2004 assembly elections. It alleged that Patil engaged associates to facilitate the contract killing, specifically citing financial mismanagement and misappropriation of funds at the sugar factory.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Kalamboli police initially filed an FIR against unknown persons. The probe was later transferred to the Navi Mumbai crime branch. Nimbalkar's wife, Anandibai, filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court seeking an independent probe, citing a history of political rivalry and previous assaults. The High Court transferred the investigation to the CBI in 2008, noting that the state police's probe was "desultory and lackadaisical." The trial was moved from the Alibaug sessions court to the city sessions court on the Supreme Court's order following a petition by Anandibai alleging that Patil was exerting undue influence.
Key Evidence
A key component of the prosecution's case was the deposition of the approver, Parasmal Jain, who allegedly initially accepted the contract for the murder. Jain said he was recruited by two co-accused, both alleged associates of Patil, to coordinate the hit. He provided details on the recruitment of shooters from Uttar Pradesh, the purchase of a vehicle under an alias, and the tracking of Nimbalkar's movements. The investigation also relied on forensic reports, ballistic evidence linking weapons to the crime scene, and call detail records tracking communication between the accused.
Anandibai and her son Omprakash deposed on longstanding threats and harassment faced by Nimbalkar, including denial of police protection and obstruction of firearm license renewals. The prosecution presented evidence from medical officers confirming cause of death from close-range firearm injuries and from administrative officials detailing financial irregularities within the sugar factory.
