A special court in Mumbai is expected to announce its verdict on Monday in the 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pavanraje Nimbalkar and his driver Samad Kazi. The case involves nine accused, including Padamsinh Patil, the brother of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and a former state minister from the NCP.
Background of the Case
Nimbalkar was shot dead in his car near the Kalamboli Steel Market on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on June 3, 2006. According to the prosecution, the murder was orchestrated due to political and business rivalries between Nimbalkar and his cousin, Padamsinh Patil. The motive stemmed from Nimbalkar's opposition to the management of the Terna Sugar Factory and his electoral contest against Patil in the 2004 Maharashtra legislative assembly elections.
Accused and Trial
The nine accused on trial are Padmasinh Patil, Satish Mandade, Mohan Shukla, Parasmal Jain, Dinesh Tiwari, Mahatam Chaudhary, Kailash Yadav, Gyanendra Pandey, and Shashikant Kulkarni. During the trial, 128 witnesses deposed, of whom 29 were declared hostile. The CBI's special public prosecutor, Ejaz Khan, highlighted the consistency of the approver's account and supporting documentary evidence.
Investigation and Court Transfers
The Kalamboli Police initially registered an FIR against unknown persons, and the probe was later transferred to the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch. However, Nimbalkar's wife, Anandibai, filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court seeking an independent investigation, citing a history of political rivalry and previous assaults. On October 23, 2008, the High Court transferred the case to the CBI, terming the state police's probe as "desultory and lackadaisical." The trial began at the Alibaug Sessions Court but was moved to the City Sessions Court in Mumbai after the Supreme Court ordered the transfer, following Anandibai's petition alleging undue influence by Patil.
Key Evidence
A crucial part of the prosecution's case was the deposition of Parasmal Jain, who initially accepted the contract for the murder but later confessed and was granted a pardon to become an approver. Jain testified that he was recruited by co-accused Mohan Shukla and Satish Mandade, associates of Patil, to coordinate the killing. He detailed the recruitment of shooters from Uttar Pradesh, the purchase of a vehicle under a false alias, and the tracking of Nimbalkar's movements before the murder.
The investigation also relied on forensic reports, ballistic evidence linking weapons to the crime scene, and call detail records tracking communication among the accused. Anandibai Nimbalkar and her son, Omprakash, testified about long-standing threats and harassment faced by the late leader, including denial of police protection and obstruction of firearm license renewals. Medical officers confirmed the cause of death from close-range firearm injuries, and administrative officials detailed financial irregularities at the Terna Sugar Factory.
