Special Mumbai CBI Court Acquits All Accused In 2006 Nimbalkar Murder Trial

A special CBI court in Mumbai acquitted all individuals accused in the 2006 double murder of Maharashtra Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver Samad Kazi, concluding a legal trial that extended across nearly two decades.

CBI investigation

The victim’s family demanded an independent inquiry after expressing lack of confidence in the initial probe by the Navi Mumbai Police. The Bombay High Court subsequently transferred the case files to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The federal agency submitted its formal chargesheet in 2009, identifying Padamsinh Patil as the primary orchestrator. Investigators asserted that intense political rivalry drove the plot, as Patil viewed Nimbalkar’s rising status in the region as a direct threat. The agency also pointed to Nimbalkar’s resistance regarding the operations of the Terna Sugar Factory.

Patil maintained his innocence throughout the protracted legal process. Law enforcement officials arrested him in June 2009, and an Alibaug sessions court subsequently approved his bail application later that same year.

Trial spanned nearly 20 years

The judicial proceedings commenced in July 2011 before the designated special bench, featuring testimonies from 128 witnesses, including prominent anti-graft activist Anna Hazare.

Hazare joined the witness list after an approver, Parasmal Jain, disclosed that Patil had allegedly plotted to eliminate the activist as well. Hazare stated during his courtroom testimony that he had faced direct threats from the primary accused.

The court analyzed vast volumes of documentary records and conducted extensive witness depositions over multiple years. The final ruling, initially slated for May, faced 2 separate deferrals before its ultimate delivery on Saturday.

Following the wholesale acquittal, federal prosecutors declared their intention to contest the judgment in the Bombay High Court, maintaining that the evidence submitted during the trial remained substantial.

Who was Pawanraje Nimbalkar?

Pawanraje Nimbalkar, 41, was a prominent Congress politician from the Osmanabad district who was widely recognized as a rising political figure. Documentation showed he entered public life with Patil’s backing, securing leadership roles in local cooperative bodies like the Terna Sugar Factory.

However, political alignment between the duo shattered as Nimbalkar developed an independent support base. His son, current Shiv Sena (UBT) lawmaker Omraje Nimbalkar, testified that his father had initiated formal police complaints against Patil as factional hostilities worsened.

History of the Dharashiv Political Feud

The fatal dispute between Pawanraje Nimbalkar and Padamsinh Patil traces back to the deeply entrenched cooperative politics of the Marathwada region, specifically within the Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) district. The control of cooperative sugar factories and district banks forms the traditional power base of regional leadership in Maharashtra.

While Nimbalkar began his political journey as a protégé to Patil, their subsequent struggle for dominance over these lucrative cooperative institutions triggered a bitter, multi-decade structural divide. This rivalry fractured local party units and ultimately culminated in the 2006 ambush, permanently reshaping the political landscape of the district.

FAQs

What was the final verdict in the Pawanraje Nimbalkar murder trial?

The special CBI court in Mumbai acquitted all the accused individuals, including the suspected mastermind Padamsinh Patil, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to sustain convictions after a trial lasting nearly two decades.

When and where did the double murder take place?

The incident occurred on June 3, 2006, near Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai, when armed attackers blocked the vehicle carrying Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver Samad Kazi, shooting both men dead.

Why did the Central Bureau of Investigation take over the case?

The investigation was transferred to the CBI following a directive from the Bombay High Court, after Nimbalkar’s family expressed dissatisfaction with the initial probe conducted by the local Navi Mumbai Police.

What role did activist Anna Hazare play in the trial?

Anna Hazare appeared as a prosecution witness during the trial after an approver claimed that Padamsinh Patil had also planned to assassinate him. Hazare confirmed to the court that he had received threats.