Twenty years after the sensational killing of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and following testimony from 128 witnesses, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai has acquitted all nine accused in the case, including former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP and ex-state home minister Padamsinh Patil. The verdict brings to a close one of Maharashtra’s longest-running and most politically sensitive criminal trials, though the CBI has indicated that it may challenge the acquittal before a higher court.
A Rivalry That Turned Deadly
The origins of the case lie in an intense political and personal rivalry between Pawanraje Nimbalkar and Padamsinh Patil. Despite being first cousins, the two had emerged as fierce competitors in the political landscape of Maharashtra’s Marathwada region.
The rivalry intensified after the 2004 Lok Sabha election, when Patil narrowly defeated Nimbalkar from the Osmanabad constituency by just 484 votes. Nimbalkar remained an influential political figure and was viewed as a potential challenge to Patil’s political dominance. According to investigators, disputes linked to politics and cooperative sector institutions further deepened tensions between the two camps.
The Murder and Subsequent Investigation
On June 3, 2006, Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Kazi, were shot dead while travelling in a car near Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai. The double murder sent shockwaves through Maharashtra and immediately raised suspicions of a politically motivated assassination.
Initially investigated by local authorities and the state Crime Investigation Department, the case was later transferred to the CBI in 2008 following concerns raised by Nimbalkar’s family regarding the quality of the probe.
The CBI alleged that the murder was the result of a carefully planned criminal conspiracy involving contract killers. Investigators claimed that substantial payments were made to hired shooters and that the conspiracy was driven by political and business rivalries. In 2009, the agency filed a voluminous charge sheet running into thousands of pages and named several accused, including Patil.
The Long Legal Journey
The trial formally began in 2011 and evolved into one of the longest-running political murder cases in the state. Over the years, the court examined 128 witnesses and reviewed extensive documentary and forensic evidence.
A crucial component of the prosecution’s case was the testimony of an approver—an accused who turned witness after receiving a pardon. The prosecution relied heavily on this testimony to establish the alleged conspiracy behind the murder.
However, as the proceedings progressed, questions emerged regarding the reliability and consistency of the evidence presented. The lengthy passage of time also posed challenges common to many long-running criminal cases, including fading memories and evidentiary complications.
Why the Court Ordered Acquittal
In its judgment, the special CBI court concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The court reportedly found the approver’s testimony unreliable and insufficiently corroborated by independent evidence.
As a result, all surviving accused were acquitted of the charges. The verdict represents a major setback for the prosecution after two decades of investigation and litigation.
Lessons from a Two-Decade Legal Battle
The acquittal in the Pawanraje Nimbalkar murder case underscores the complexities of prosecuting alleged political assassinations, particularly when trials stretch across decades. While the verdict brings legal closure at one level, it also raises broader questions about investigative standards, evidentiary reliability and the challenges of securing convictions in high-profile conspiracy cases. With the CBI considering an appeal, the legal chapter may not yet be entirely closed, but the judgment remains a significant moment in Maharashtra’s political and judicial history.
(With agency inputs)
