Defence lawyer seeks to withdraw from Mahajan case

MUMBAI: The defence lawyer for Pravin Mahajan, Harshad Ponda, accused of murdering his brother and senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, on Thursday filed an application seeking to withdraw from the case.

An heated argument between Ponda and Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, over scheduling of arguments of the witnesses, forced Ponda to withdraw from the high-profile case.

Nikam had sought to examine some witnesses on Thursday morning which defence counsel Ponda had opposed saying that he wanted to be present for the examination and could do so only if proceedings were conducted in the afternoon section.

After a brief argument on the schedule, Ponda filed an application seeking to withdraw from the case. Sessions judge SP Davare said he would consider the application and announce his decision by Friday.

Pravin is accused of having entered the residence of Pramod Mahajan on April 22 last year and shooting him with his pistol resulting in his death almost a fortnight later. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges of house trespass and murder.