Acquittal of Padamsinh Patil and Others in High-Profile Murder Case
In a significant verdict, a special CBI court in Mumbai has acquitted former NCP minister Padamsinh Patil and seven others accused in the 2006 murder case of Maharashtra Congress leader Pavanraje Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Kazi. The acquittal was announced on Saturday, with the court finding insufficient evidence to substantiate the charges against the defendants.
CBI’s Reliance on Approver’s Testimony
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had based much of its case on the testimony of an approver, hoping to establish a credible link between the accused and the crime. However, Additional Sessions Judge Satyanarayan Ramjivan Navandar noted that the prosecution failed to convincingly demonstrate the conspiracy to murder beyond reasonable doubt. A detailed judgment from the court is still forthcoming.
Background of the Case
The case dates back to June 3, 2006, when Pavanraje Nimbalkar and his driver were fatally shot by assailants while in a vehicle. Padamsinh Patil, who was 86 at the time of the verdict, was alleged to be the mastermind behind the murder plot. The CBI claimed that Patil had organized a contract killing, motivated by political competition and disagreements over the management of the Terna Sugar Factory, with a purported deal valued at ₹30–35 lakh.
Key Figures and Allegations
The accused included businessman Satish Mandade, former corporator Mohan Shukla, Parasmal Jain, former excise inspector Shashikant Kulkarni, BSP worker Kailash Yadav, and alleged hitmen Dinesh Tiwari, Pintu Singh, and Chote Pandey. Parasmal Jain, one of the accused, had later turned approver.
Trial Observations and Potential Appeal
Throughout the trial, 128 witnesses were examined, with 29 turning hostile, thus weakening the prosecution’s case. Given the acquittal, the CBI is expected to challenge the verdict in the High Court, seeking to overturn the decision.
