Nimbalkar murder case: Special CBI court rejects approver’s claims against Rakesh Maria

A special CBI court dismissed an approver’s allegation that former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria arranged illegal detention and torture in the 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar. The judge found the testimony unreliable and acquitted former minister Padamsinh Patil and seven others, citing failure to prove charges beyond reasonable doubt.

A special CBI court dismissed claims that former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria arranged an approver’s illegal detention and torture in the 2006 murder case of Maharashtra Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar. The court said the approver’s evidence could not be trusted. It also ruled the prosecution did not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Special judge Satyanarayan Navandar acquitted former state minister Padamsinh Patil and seven other accused in the high-profile matter. The court said the prosecution failed to establish the charges. It also rejected the approver’s account about being unlawfully held, calling the prosecution’s stand unclear and inconsistent.

CBI court order on Rakesh Maria allegations

Parasmal Jain, an accused-turned approver, told the court that crime branch officers unlawfully detained Jain and co-accused Dinesh Tiwari. Jain said both were harassed and ill-treated in custody. Jain also claimed police later showed an arrest in a false Arms Act case.

Jain alleged the false cases were planned by Maria, and linked this to pressure from powerful political leaders. During cross-examination, Jain said the alleged torture stopped only after confessions. Maria appeared as a witness and denied Jain’s allegations. The court said it found no firm proof supporting Jain’s version.

CBI court findings on Padamsinh Patil and Rakesh Maria meetings

The court said it did not see reliable, clear, or convincing evidence of meetings involving the approver, Patil, and Maria. It held the prosecution did not present consistent details about the alleged unlawful detention. The court also questioned why parts of the story appeared later, during the case record.

"From the tenor of the confessional statement, it appears that the entire episode relating to these meetings was subsequently introduced with a view to connect Patil with the conspiracy and to create an impression Maria had proximity with the principal accused,\" the court remarked.

2006 Pawanraje Nimbalkar murder case details

The case related to an attack on June 3, 2006, when Pawanraje Nimbalkar travelled from Mumbai to Osmanabad, now Dharashiv. Driver Samad Kazi was in the car. Two hitmen intercepted the vehicle at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai. The assailants opened fire and killed both men on the spot.

With the acquittal of Padamsinh Patil and seven others, the court said the prosecution did not meet the standard of proof required. It also rejected the approver’s claims against Rakesh Maria, citing weak and inconsistent material. The order relied on the view that key allegations lacked dependable supporting evidence.

With inputs from PTI