Nagpur: In a major development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has requested the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court permission for closure of investigations in the sensational murder case of Architect Eknath Nimgade in Nagpur, according to a report in a local daily.
The CBI has reportedly told the High Court that they have not found any concrete evidence to convict the accused therefore the permission for closure of the investigations may be granted.
While hearing the petition filed by Anupam Nimgade, son of deceased Eknath Nimgade, a division bench consisting of Justice Vinay Joshi and Justice Vrushali Joshi recorded the statement made by the CBI and posted the petition for further hearing on April 3. The CBI has submitted various status reports regarding the murder. These reports were presented in a sealed envelope and contained details about the names of individuals who have been interrogated.
Additionally, there was reference to the seizure of certain weapons. However, in a fresh report the CBI urged the High Court to allow it to close the investigations as no concrete evidence could be unearthed.
However, the Nagpur Police in March 2021, had claimed to have solved the sensational murder case of 70-year-old architect Eknath Nimgade, who was shot dead near Agrasen Chowk petrol pump on September 6, 2016. Terming the case as ‘Supari killing’ (contract killing), the then Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar had claimed involvement of 15 dreaded goons and sharp-shooters from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in the murder case.
The CP had further said that Nagpur-based goons had promised Rs 5 crore ‘Supari’ to the killers and had paid them off Rs 1.75 crore The Nimgade murder case was a tricky challenge for the cops as they were groping in the dark for a long time. Initially, Tehsil police and Crime Branch investigated the murder case. Later, Nimgade’s son Advocate Anupam had moved the High Court alleging city police’s lax approach in the probe. The High Court had then transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in November 2016.
It may be recalled that Nimgade was shot five times by assailants while he was returning from a morning walk on September 6, 2016, at Lal Imli Chowk in Nagpur. According to police, assailants shot eight rounds at Nimgade out of which five bullets penetrated his body.
