Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and minister for Public Works Department and Tourism Chhagan Bhujbal, who is also a former deputy chief minister and home minister belonging to Other Backward Class category, had clashed with Patil in the cabinet meeting insisting for a CBI probe, while Patil was hesitant to accept the demand stating that there was no need for the CBI to probe the murder of Sonawane as the local police had done a remarkable job. Patil’s statement was countered by his own party and Congress ministers who supported Bhujbal.

The Opposition Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders as well as the family members of the deceased officer and that of the prime accused Popat Shinde, who later succumbed to burn injuries too, had demanded a probe by the CBI.

Standing firm on his demand for a CBI probe, Bhujbal, who is also the guardian minister for Nashik, pointed out that even when the investigations into the case were under way, there were allegations of the involvement of politicians in the oil pilferage racket.