The Bombay High Court today rapped CBI for delaying hearing on its own petition seeking cancellation of bail granted to NCP leader Padamsinh Patil in the 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar.
"The petition seeking cancellation of bail was filed by CBI and the agency itself is asking for adjournments time and again. What is the use of this petition if it is not followed properly by CBI," Justice Abhay Thipsay observed.
The petition which was to come up for hearing today had to be adjourned till June 24 as the CBI counsel was absent.
Adjourning the matter, Justice Thipsay stated that no further adjournments would be granted.
CBI had sought cancellation of bail granted to Padamsinh Patil on the ground that he was influencing witnesses, and about 15 of whom had already turned hostile during trial.
Incidentally, Nimbalkar's widow Anandibai has also filed an application in the high court seeking transfer of the trial out of Alibag.
Padamsinh has been accused of hatching a conspiracy to murder Nimbalkar due to political rivalry. Padamsinh allegedly hired killers for Rs 30 lakh to eliminate Nimbalkar, who, along with his driver was shot dead on June 3, 2006 at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai.
Other accused in the case include Latur-based businessman Satish Mandade, ex-corporator from Dombivli Mohan Shukla, Parasmal Jain, former state excise inspector Shashikant Kulkarni, Bahujan Samaj Party worker Kailash Yadav, alleged shooters Dinesh Tiwari, Pintu Singh and Chote Pandey.
