Special CBI Court Judge Satyanarayan Navandar ruled that the prosecution could not prove the conspiracy charges against the accused. The case primarily rested on the testimony of accused-turned-approver Parasmal Jain. However, the court found his testimony doubtful and rejected it, observing that it failed to establish the sequence of events connected to the crime.
Patil, a former Nationalist Congress Party Member of Parliament and stepbrother of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, was among the eight individuals facing trial in the case. Pawanraje Nimbalkar's son, Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, is currently a Member of Parliament from Shiv Sena (UBT).
According to the case records, on June 3, 2006, Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Kazi, were travelling from Mumbai to Osmanabad, now known as Dharashiv, when two hitmen intercepted their vehicle at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai and opened fire. Both men were killed on the spot in the attack.
The investigation was initially conducted by the Navi Mumbai Police. However, the Bombay High Court later transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation after Pawanraje Nimbalkar's wife expressed dissatisfaction over the progress of the probe.
Following the transfer of the investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Padamsinh Patil in June 2009. He was subsequently granted bail by a sessions court in Alibaug in Raigad district in September the same year.
The acquittal marks the latest chapter in a case that remained under judicial scrutiny for two decades, with the special court ultimately concluding that the prosecution had failed to prove the conspiracy allegations and establish the sequence of events necessary to secure a conviction.
About The Author
Comment List