Nimbalkar case: Kin seeks transfer of trial to Mumbai

After several witnesses turned hostile in murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar in which NCP leader Padmasinh Patil is the prime accused, the family of the deceased has approached the Bombay High Court, seeking transfer of the trial to Mumbai from Alibaug.

Anandibai, late Nimbalkar’s wife, has written an application to the Bombay HC requesting that the trial before the Alibaug sessions court be stayed and the same be transferred to Mumbai.

Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had filed an application before HC alleging that Padamsinh was using his influence to exert pressure on the witnesses in the case.

Anandibai’s application states that after the CBI’s application, three more prosecution witnesses have turned hostile.

“Even after the affidavit was filed (by CBI), three more witnesses turned hostile. As of today, nine witnesses, out of the total 34, have refused to depose against the accused and have been declared hostile,” the application said.

Seeking police protection for all the witnesses, Anandibai’s application states that the witnesses were being intimidated by powerful politicians, “who are well-connected with gangsters”. Her application is likely to be heard next week.

On June 3, 2006, Nimbalkar was shot dead near Kalamboli steel market in Navi Mumbai. His driver Samad Kazi was also killed in the attack. Anandibai had alleged that her husband was killed out of political rivalry.