Pawanraje Nimbalkar murder case: Supreme Court transfers trial from Alibaug to Mumbai

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday transferred Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar’s murder case trial from the sessions court at Alibaug to Mumbai. NCP leader Padamsinh Patil, the prime accused in the case, has been charged with hatching a conspiracy to kill Nimbalkar in 2006 because of political rivalry.

Patil was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and released on bail.

The apex court order was passed on a special leave petition filed by Nimbalkar’s widow Anandibai, seeking that the trial be transferred outside Alibaug.

She had moved the SC after nine witnesses turned hostile. A total of 43 witnesses had been examined by the prosecution before the SC stayed the trial in Alibaug sessions court in December 2012.

Both the CBI and Anandibai then approached the Bombay high court, seeking cancellation of Patil’s bail alleging that he was influencing the witnesses. Their applications will come up for hearing later this month.

On June 3, 2006, Nimbalkar was shot dead near Kalamboli steel market in Navi Mumbai. His driver Samad Kazi was also killed in the attack. Anandibai had alleged that her husband was killed because of political rivalry and claimed that former minister Padamsinh Patil was behind the murders.

Patil was arrested in June 2009, for allegedly conspiring to kill Nimbalkar. He and other accused were booked for murder, criminal conspiracy and under Arms Act. However, Patil was granted bail by the Alibaug sessions court on September 25, 2009.

The trial started in July 2011.

The CBI charge sheet names Patil as the prime accused, who had allegedly paid Rs30 lakh for the murder. According to the CBI, Patil’s motive behind the crime was that he perceived Nimbalkar as a threat to his political career.

The other accused in the case include Latur-based businessman Satish Mandade, corporator Mohan Shukla, Parasmal Jain, former state excise inspector Shashikant Kulkarni, Bahujan Samaj Party worker Kailash Yadav, and alleged shooters Dinesh Tiwari, Pintu Singh and Chote Pandey.

Criminal act
On June 3, 2006, Nimbalkar was shot dead near Kalamboli steel market in Navi Mumbai. His driver Samad Kazi was also killed in the attack. Nimbalkar’s widow Anandibai had alleged that her husband was killed because of political rivalry and claimed that former minister Padamsinh Patil was behind the murders.

Patil was arrested in June 2009, for allegedly conspiring to kill Nimbalkar. However, Patil was granted bail by the Alibaug sessions court on September 25, 2009.