A special CBI court in Mumbai will pronounce its judgment in the 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar on June 20. The case, which has seen a trial lasting 15 years, involves allegations of a contract killing conspiracy against former NCP MP Padamsinh Patil, the victim’s cousin.

Special court judge Satyanarayan Navandar, who had listed the case for judgment on Tuesday, adjourned the proceedings to June 20, stating that he needed two to three more days to complete the judgment.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named Mr. Patil as the prime accused. The agency’s case states that Mr. Patil paid contract money to eliminate Nimbalkar owing to political and business rivalry.

Mr. Patil, a former Maharashtra Home Minister and a former MP from Dharashiv, was an MLA at the time of the murder. He had held multiple Cabinet portfolios during his political career.

The prosecution examined 128 witnesses over the course of the trial. Among them was activist Anna Hazare, whose name surfaced after approver Parasmal Jain confessed that Mr. Patil had also given a contract to kill Mr. Hazare. The latter testified in court about receiving threats from Mr. Patil.

Case background

The case dates to June 3, 2006, when Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Kazi, were travelling from Mumbai to Osmanabad (now Dharashiv). Two hitmen intercepted their vehicle at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai and fired at them, resulting in the deaths of both occupants.

The accused in the case include Mr. Patil, Latur-based businessman Satish Mandade, retired State excise inspector Mohan Shukla, and the shooters.

According to case records, Mr. Mandade and Mr. Shukla gave a contract of ₹30 lakh to Mr. Jain to kill Nimbalkar. Mr. Jain later received a pardon and turned approver.

The Navi Mumbai police conducted the initial investigation. The Bombay High Court transferred the probe to the CBI after Nimbalkar’s wife raised concerns about the progress of the investigation.

Mr. Patil was arrested in June 2009. A sessions court in Alibaug granted him bail in September of that year. The trial in the case commenced in July 2011.