Ex-Prez Pratibha Patil's brother named accused in murder case

Former President Pratibha Patil's brother was on Monday named by the sessions court as an accused in the 2005 murder of a local Congress leader in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

Former President Pratibha Patil's brother, Gajendra Narayan Patil, was on Monday named by the sessions court as an accused in the 2005 murder of a local Congress leader in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

Additional sessions judge DJ Shegokar passed the order naming Gajendra Narayan Patil and ex-MLA Ulhas Patil as accused in response to an application filed by the wife of victim professor VG Patil.

VG Patil, the then chief of Jalgaon district Congress, was murdered in September 2005.

"Cognisance of the offence punishable under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) is hereby taken against Gajendrasing Narayan Patil and Ulhas Vasudeo Patil," the sessions court said in its order.

"The trial of these newly-arraigned accused shall commence afresh as provided by CrPC Section 319 (which gives the court power to try any person which is not an accused initially, if he appears to be guilty)," the judge said.

There was sufficient evidence against these two accused but they were being shielded due to political pressure, Rajni Patil, the wife of slain Congress leader, said.

Two suspects, Raju Sonawane and Raju Mali, were arrested soon after the murder which was suspected to be a fallout of political rivalry. Of them, Raju Sonawane is currently in jail while Raju Mali has died.

In her application, Rajni said she relied on the "confession" of Raju Sonawane during narco-analysis test conducted on him by investigators which pointed to the involvement of Gajendra in the case.

The matter was earlier handled by state CID but in February 2007 the Bombay High Court, acting on a petition from Rajni, transferred the probe to CBI.