Rivalry motive behind Nimbalkar's murder: CBI

The CBI today accused NCP MP Padamsinh Patil of conspiring to murder Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar due to political rivalry and fear of exposure of financial irregularities committed by him.

"Political rivalry and the exposure of certain financial irregularities was the motive," Balwinder Singh, Additional Director (Western and Southern region) of CBI, told reporters.

"Patil is evasive but we cannot forcibly take his confession. We have evidence against him," he said.

Patil, a NCP MP from Osmanabad constituency, was arrested on June 7 and is now in police custody till June 20.
Scientific tests like narco-analysis are normally done when there is little other evidence in a case, Singh said.

"However, we have vital and adequate clues in this case," he said. The six persons arrested in the case so far have been divided into three categories: facilitators, shooters and conspirators, he said.

The NCP MP was one of the conspirators and some more are still to be arrested, Singh said. Nimbalkar was shot dead along with his driver on June 3, 2006 by gunmen in neighbouring Navi Mumbai.