MUMBAI, 15 July 2007 — Six days prior to presidential elections, controversies continue to trouble Indian presidential aspirant Pratibha Patil. A petition filed by Rajni Patil, widow of slain president of Jalgaon District Congress (I) Committee professor Vishram Patil, sought a thorough interrogation of Pratibha Patil and her brother Dr. G.N. Patil in the murder of her husband in Jalgaon on Sept. 21, 2005.
Senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani appearing for the complainant demanded that the sister-brother duo be interrogated, stating that the CBI had not made any progress in the case though more than five months had passed.
“I’m not pressing for anybody’s arrest but requesting that at least interrogate them,” he urged the court.
Jethmalani further told the court that when the Jalgaon police were on the verge of detecting the murder case, it was transferred to the CID and pointed out that the state government itself had said that the investigations were not satisfactory.
The widow Rajni Patil in her petition alleged that her husband was allegedly murdered at the instance of Pratibha’s brother Dr. G.N. Patil.
She further alleged inaction on part of the CBI, as Pratibha Patil then as Rajasthan state governor was trying to protect her brother using political clout.
The deceased Vishram Patil, who had also defeated GN Patil in party presidential polls, had brought to the notice of party top brass the misappropriation of tsunami funds for which Dr. G N Patil was responsible. However, the police failed to take any action.
The plea adds, “It’s obvious that the probe is being subverted by Pratibha’s influence.” It urges her interrogation before July 19 — the day of presidential polls — for if she wins she will get ‘presidential immunity’.
The Division Bench of Justices R M S Khandparkar and V K Tahilramani will now go through the case files submitted by the CBI and hear the case further on Friday, July 17. Additional Solicitor General B A Desai appearing for the CBI said that the defense would file an affidavit stating the steps taken in the probe in the next hearing. The court, however, was not pleased with the CBI effort.
Desai told the court that the petition was a move to mar the success of the presidential candidate Pratibha Patil. Talking to media persons outside the court, Rajni said, “I get justice only if all parties are honest. It is a now or never situation for me.”
