HC: No reason to make Anna witness in case

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday dismissed an application filed by Anandidevi, widow of slain Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, seeking direction for the trial court to call social activist Anna Hazare as a prosecution witness in her husband’s murder case. While refusing to allow the application, Justice Mridula Bhatkar held that she has not found anything to show that Mr Hazare’s evidence would be useful to case.

The sessions court conducting trial in 2006 Nimbalkar murder case on April 12 had exempted Mr Hazare from being examined as a prosecution witness in the case

Anandidevi, however, challenged this order in the Bombay high court, contending that Mr Hazare was an important witness because he was aware of the conspiracy to kill her husband.

Former state minister Padamsinh Patil is the prime accused in the murder case. According to the applicant, the accused had also conspired to kill Mr Hazare. However, Justice Bhatkar observed that Mr Hazare’s evidence was only hearsay and that it was not direct evidence of the alleged conspiracy and hence dropping him as a witness would not make any difference on the consequence of the trial.

Justice Bhatkar held, “There is nothing on record to show that Hazare had direct knowledge of the conspiracy. There is no direct evidence.” It further observed, “This court does not find anything to show that Hazare’s evidence would be useful to this case. He does not seem like a necessary witness.” She also said that due to aforementioned reasons she did not find any reason to order that Mr Hazare should be examined as a prosecution as witness in case.