Patil’s widow wants trial transferred

Rajni Patil — widow of slain president of the Jalgaon District Congress Committee (DCC) Vishram Patil — has filed an application before the sessions judge at Jalgaon, seeking a transfer the trial of her husband's murder to another court.

Rajni Patil — widow of slain president of the Jalgaon District Congress Committee (DCC) Vishram Patil — has filed an application before the sessions judge at Jalgaon, seeking a transfer the trial of her husband's murder to another court.

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Patil has expressed doubt over the existing court and the credibility of the CBI counsel.

Patil has earlier approached the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court alleging that President Pratibha Patil’s brother, G.N. Patil, is the main conspirator behind her husband’s murder. However, a decision on the matter has been pending since last four years.

“I do not think I would get justice from this court,” states the two-page application filed by Patil. “I doubt the work credentials of CBI counsel advocate Salvi,” her application states.

Patil filed the application on January 30 before the court where trial against one accused — Raju Sonawane — was going on. Four persons were arrested for their alleged role in the murder of Vishram Patil — Raju Sonawane, Raju Mail, Liladhar Narkhede and Damodar Lokhande. The court is yet to frame charges against Narkhede and Lokhande. Raju Mali had died under mysterious circumstances in custody on April 7, 2007 — a day before the CBI was to question him. Police claimed he was HIV positive and died of a lung infection.

Lokhande had filed a discharge application, which the CBI opposed stating that they had enough evidence against him to connect him with the murder. The court is expected to pass the application on his discharge soon. While the State CID took over the investigations on September 30, 2005, CBI started a probe in February 2007. On January 3, 2006, Mali and Sonawane had written letters saying that G.N. Patil and Ulhas were threatening them to confess.