HC Issues Notice to Padamsinh Patil Over Acquittal in Pawanraje Nimbalkar Murder

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued notices to former Maharashtra Home Minister Padamsinh Patil and eight others following an appeal challenging their acquittal in the 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar.

A division bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata directed the Maharashtra state government, Patil, and the co-accused to file their responses to the petition. The appeal challenging the trial court's verdict was filed jointly by Anandi Devi Nimbalkar, the victim’s widow and original complainant, and her son, Shiv Sena MP Omraje Nimbalkar.

On June 3, 2006, Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Abdul Wahid Kazi, were shot dead on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The victim's family alleged that the assassination was orchestrated by his cousin, senior NCP leader Dr. Padamsinh Patil, 85, driven by a bitter political rivalry in Osmanabad.

The Central Bureau of Investigation took over the probe in March 2009 following directions from the Bombay High Court. The central agency subsequently filed a chargesheet against nine individuals in August 2009.

However, on June 20, a Special CBI court acquitted all eight accused. The individuals cleared alongside Patil were Satish Mandade, Mohan Shukla, Dinesh Tiwari, Mahatam Chaudhary, Kailash Yadav, Gyanendra Pandey, and Shashikant Kulkarni. The court also discharged approver Parasmal Jain.

In its decision, the sessions court cited a flawed and casual investigation by law enforcement, highlighting major evidentiary gaps in the case. The court ruled that the testimony of the turncoat approver was unreliable and determined that the remaining prosecution evidence failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, prompting the family to challenge the acquittals before the High Court.