20 Years, 128 Witnesses Later: Padamsinh Patil, Seven Others Acquitted in Pawanraje Nimbalkar Murder Case
In a landmark verdict bringing an end to one of Maharashtra’s longest-running and most politically sensitive criminal trials, a Special CBI Court in Mumbai on Saturday acquitted former NCP leader and ex-Maharashtra Home Minister Padamsinh Patil and seven other accused in the 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver Samad Kazi. The judgment comes nearly two decades after the sensational double murder that shook Maharashtra’s political landscape.
The case stemmed from the June 3, 2006 killing of Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver near Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai, where assailants allegedly intercepted their vehicle and opened fire. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which later took over the probe from local authorities, had alleged that the murder was the outcome of intense political and business rivalry between Nimbalkar and Patil. Prosecutors claimed that a contract killing conspiracy had been orchestrated to eliminate the rising Congress leader.
The trial became one of the most prolonged criminal proceedings in Maharashtra’s recent history. Over approximately 20 years, the court examined 128 witnesses, reviewed extensive documentary and forensic evidence, and heard arguments spanning multiple phases of investigation and litigation. Among those who testified during the proceedings was social activist Anna Hazare.
According to reports emerging after the verdict, the court found the prosecution’s evidence insufficient to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Significant reliance had been placed on the testimony of an approver witness, and questions regarding the reliability and evidentiary value of that testimony reportedly played a major role in the court’s assessment of the case.
The verdict triggered strong reactions from the Nimbalkar family. Pawanraje’s son, Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, expressed disappointment and questioned who would be held accountable for his father’s murder if all the accused had been acquitted. He indicated that the family would challenge the judgment before the Bombay High Court.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that the CBI intends to appeal the acquittal before the Bombay High Court, ensuring that the legal battle may continue despite the trial court’s decision.
The case has long symbolized the fierce political rivalries that shaped politics in the Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) region. While the Special CBI Court’s verdict closes a major chapter in the trial court proceedings, the anticipated appeal means that one of Maharashtra’s most closely watched political murder cases may continue to unfold in higher courts.
