The prosecution in the decade-old sensational murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar on Friday recorded the statement of Anandibai, the wife of deceased, as a witness and her testimony wou
The prosecution in the decade-old sensational murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar on Friday recorded the statement of Anandibai, the wife of deceased, as a witness and her testimony would continue in May.
The prosecution has already examined 75 witnesses before her. Anandibai deposed before the court in Marathi and explained that how relations between her late husband and the accused, NCP leader and former state minister Padmasinh Patil, soured despite the fact that they were cousin brothers.
Anandibai, who had come to court dressed in a blue saree, told the court that the relationship between her husband Nimbalkar and Patil was good till 1991. However, in 1991 her
husband contested a Zilla parishad election and at that time Patil did not support him and that resulted in bitterness between the two. Before this they were very close and used to work together but later, with time, the relationship became strained.
The trial of this case was earlier being conducted in Alibaug. However, during the trial around six witnesses turned hostile and Nimbalkar’s family approached the Bombay high court alleging Patil was pressurising witnesses. The CBI, in 2012, had also told the high court that it felt witnesses had changed their original statements during their deposition in court because of alleged “pressure tactics” by Patil. The high court had then directed transfer of the trial in Mumbai.
Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar was shot dead along with his driver Samad Kazi at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai on June 3, 2006. His wife Anandibai Nimbalkar filed a petition in the high court, alleging that NCP leader and former state minister Padmasinh Patil was involved in the murder, and demanded that the case be handed to CBI.
The CBI arrested Patil on June 6, 2009.
