File Photo of Raju Bhadre
Nagpur News.
The much awaited verdict in the broad day light murder of Pintu Shirke in the court premises was out on Friday. Eight people who have been convicted on the charges of murder were sentenced to life imprisonment while seven others have been acquitted for the lack of strong evidence against them.
In a packed court room at district and sessions court in Nagpur, Justice SD Jagmalani on Friday pronounced the verdict amidst much anxious relatives of both the accused and deceased.
Those ordered life imprisonment include Raju Bhadre, Vijay Mate, Kiran Kaithe, Dinesh Gayaki, Ritesh Gawande, Ayub Khan, Umesh Dahake and Kamlesh Nimbarte.
Those who were acquitted from the charges include Maruti Nauwa, Panjdurang Kinjewar, Mahesh Bante, Rajesh Kadu, Mayur Chavan, his brother Mangesh Chavan and Sandeep Sanak.
Pintu Shirke was brutally murdered on the sixth floor of dstrict and sessions court building on February 11, 2002 following the land dispute. Cops arrested few goons involved in the murder on the spot while others were held during investigations. Pintu, who was involved in some hefty crimes, was brutally killed with swords and other sharp-edged weapons in the court premises. The then Investigating Officer Vijay Swami submitted his report on September 8, 2002 and investigative officer Deputy Commissioner of Police Harish Parshionikar filed the chargesheet in the court. Out of the 16 accused, one accused passed away during the trial.
Adv Jyoti Vajani represented the State while eminent lawyers Adv Subodh Dharmadhikari, Adv Majid Memon, Adv R B Gaekwad, Adv R K Tiwari, Adv Chandrashekhar Jaltare, Adv Praful Jaltare represented the accused Raju Bhadre, Vijay Mate, Maroti Navva, Dinesh Gaiki, Sachin Gawande, Mahesh Vamte, Zakir Pathan, Manoj Chafle, Sanjay Bhedre and others.
It is to be mentioned that 11 accused were earlier acquitted of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) charges and were held only for murder.
