Ujjwal Nikam must continue: Mohsin Shaikh's dad

Pune: Mohsin Shaikh’s father has requested Ujjwal Nikam to continue as the special public prosecutor in his son’s murder case. Mohsin Shaikh, who worked in a Pune firm, was allegedly killed by Hindu Rashtra Sena members on the night of June 2, 2014. Moshin’s father has written a letter and sent messages to Mr Nikam, requesting him to continue as special public prosecutor in the case. He believes that it is difficult to get a lawyer of Mr Nikam’s calibre.

“Ujjwal Nikam is an advocate of high calibre and credibility, and I was always sure that he would get justice for my son. With his withdrawal as the special public prosecutor from the case, I am scared that my son will be deprived of justice. I have been requesting Nikam to continue as special public prosecutor in the case,” said Sadiq Shaikh, father of Mohsin Sheikh.

Mr Nikam’s withdrawal came as a shock to the family of Mohsin as they were not aware that he had forwarded the request to law and judiciary department. Mr Sheikh said, “We came to know about his decision on Monday in Pune Sessions Court. The law and judicial department was given the letter on May 19. We were not informed about it.” Mohsin’s family in 2014 had requested then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to appoint Mr Nikam as special public prosecutor in the case.

Rashtrapremi Kruti Samiti, an outfit, which works for minority rights, had opposed the appointment of Mr Nikam, saying he had accepted awards from right-wing outfits. Mr Sheikh said, “Nikam has fought and won all the cases involving terrorists, and Hindu Rashtra Sena is a terrorist organisation. My family never supported the claims made by Rashtrapremi Kruti Samiti. We always wanted Nikam as special public prosecutor.”

He added, “We don’t know why Nikam decided to leave the case. Either he is busy and has been working on multiple cases, or it is due to opposition by minority groups.”