# Pawanraje Nimbalkar Murder Case: Mumbai Court Acquits Former Minister Padmasinh Patil and All Accused in Major Blow to MP Omraje

> A special CBI court in Mumbai has acquitted all nine accused, including former Maharashtra minister Padmasinh Patil, in the nearly two-decade-old murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Politics · **Published:** 2026-06-20 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/politics/pawanraje-nimbalkar-hatyakanda-men-mumbai-korta-ka-bara-phaisala-padmasinh-patil-sameta-sabhi-9-aropi-bari-omraje-nimbalkar-ko-jha-2010 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Pawanraje Nimbalkar, Padmasinh Patil, Omraje Nimbalkar, Mumbai CBI Court, Maharashtra Politics, Murder Case Verdict

## Special CBI Court Delivers Key Verdict

In a major development in one of Maharashtra's most high-profile political murder trials, a special CBI court in Mumbai has acquitted all nine accused, including former state minister Padmasinh Patil. The ruling comes as a severe blow to Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) MP Omraje Nimbalkar, the son of the deceased leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, who has been leading a long legal battle to bring his father's killers to justice.

 

## The Fatal 2006 Ambush

The case dates back to June 3, 2006, when influential Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Qazi, were gunned down in broad daylight. The duo was traveling in a Skoda car through the Kalamboli area of Navi Mumbai when assailants intercepted their vehicle and opened fire indiscriminately, killing both on the spot. The brutal double murder sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Maharashtra and was immediately suspected to be a fallout of deep-rooted political rivalry.

 

## CBI Investigation and Conspiracy Allegations

Dissatisfied with the initial local police investigation, Pawanraje Nimbalkar's family demanded an independent inquiry, leading to the case being transferred to the CBI. In 2009, the federal agency filed its charge sheet naming former Maharashtra Home Minister Padmasinh Patil as the prime conspirator. According to the CBI, Pawanraje's rising political dominance in the Osmanabad district was perceived as a direct challenge by Patil. The agency alleged that a contract of Rs 30 lakh was paid to execute the political assassination, though Patil consistently denied any involvement in the crime.

 

## A Long Trial and the List of Acquitted

The legal proceedings dragged on for nearly 20 years, making it one of the longest-running political murder trials in the state. While the court was initially scheduled to pronounce its judgment on June 19, the decision was postponed due to certain technical and documentary procedures. On Saturday, the special CBI court finally delivered its verdict, clearing all accused of all charges. Alongside Padmasinh Patil, those acquitted include businessman Satish Mandade, former corporator Mohan Shukla, Parasmal Jain, former excise inspector Shashikant Kulkarni, BSP worker Kailash Yadav, and alleged shooters Dinesh Tiwari, Pintu Singh, and Chhote Pandey.

 

## Recent Political Controversy
 The case recently returned to political headlines following assertions by Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut. Raut had claimed that Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar was being approached to switch political alignments with promises of a favorable outcome in the ongoing trial. However, no independent validation of these allegations was ever established. While this judgment marks the conclusion of a significant legal chapter in Maharashtra's political history, the possibility of the victim's family appealing the acquittal in a higher court remains open.

## What this means for you
- **Across India:** This case demonstrates that the judicial process in high-profile political trials can be extremely lengthy, which often impacts public trust in the legal system.

- **In Maharashtra:** This verdict could influence political equations in Dharashiv and nearby regions, especially in the context of the ongoing tussle between different Shiv Sena factions.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When and where did the Pawanraje Nimbalkar murder take place?
The murder took place on June 3, 2006, in the Kalamboli area of Navi Mumbai, where Pawanraje and his driver were shot dead.

### 2. What has the special CBI court ruled in its recent verdict?
The court has acquitted all 9 accused, including former minister Padmasinh Patil, due to lack of evidence.

### 3. What was the main motive behind the murder according to the CBI?
The CBI alleged that the murder was commissioned for a contract of Rs 30 lakh due to political rivalry and Pawanraje's rising popularity in Osmanabad.

### 4. Who is Omraje Nimbalkar in relation to Pawanraje Nimbalkar?
Omraje Nimbalkar is the son of Pawanraje and is currently the MP from Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) representing the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

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