SC directs CBI to call Anna Hazare as prosecution witness in Nimbalkar murder trial

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court has set aside a Bombay high court order and directed the CBI to call Anna Hazare as its witness in a 2006 murder case of Congress leader Pawan Raje Nimbalkar.
"Whether, Hazare’s evidence is hearsay or not will be determined by the trial court during the trial and cannot be prejudged at this stage," the SC bench of Justices Sharad Bobde and S Abdul Nazeer ruled on April 29 directing that the trial not be delayed on this account.
The HC had in October 2018 dismissed a petition filed by the widow Anandidevi Nimbalkar who wanted Hazare to be a witness in the trial where the accused persons include former state minister Padamsinh Patil.
On April 12, 2018, a sessions court had exempted Hazare as prosecution witness holding that his evidence would be hearsay and hold no value, but Anandidevi challenged the order in the HC, which upheld the sessions court order.
Patil has been accused of hatching a conspiracy to murder Nimbalkar due to political rivalry. Nimbalkar was shot dead on June 3, 2006 at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai.