HC moved against Pratibha Patil in murder case

Rajni Patil, the wife of Congress worker V G Patil who was murdered in Jalgaon in 2005, moved the Bombay High Court on Friday, demanding that the CBI 'interrogate' UPA's presidential candidate Pratibha Patil and her brother in connection with the case before the Presidential poll.

Rajni Patil's petition stated that the CBI, which was directed by the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court to probe the case in February, must question Pratibha before July 19, the date for the presidential election because she might get "presidential immunity" if she wins the poll.

It alleged that Pratibha 'has been influencing and subverting the investigation of the case to shield her brother Dr G N Patil, also a Congress worker from Jalgaon'.

The division bench of Justices R M S Khandeparkar and V K Tahilramani adjourned the matter till July 17 without passing an order.

V G Patil was the Congress committee president in Jalgaon district when he was murdered on September 21, 2005.

The petition alleged that he had complained to the MPCC about the misappropriation of funds collected for tsunami
relief by G N Patil and another Congress worker, Ulhaas Patil, before his murder.

V G Patil defeated G N Patil in the election for the post of district Congress committee president.

The petition alleged that though the Aurangabad bench of High Court directed the CBI to take over the probe from the CID this February, the agency has not done anything so far.

It also prayed that the High Court should monitor the probe.

According to the petition, G N Patil did not deposit the tsunami relief fund of Rs 1,89,105 collected by Congress workers in the Chief Minister's Relief Fund or Pradesh Congress Committee's account, as was required.

Also, G N Patil did not submit the account of funds collected by party workers to felicitate Pratibha when she became governor of Rajasthan, it alleged.

V G Patil made complaints to Congress leaders in this regard, it said.

Police have arrested four persons -- Raju Mali, Raju Sonawane, Liladhar Nekhade and Damodar Lokhande -- in connection with V G Patil's murder.

Raju Mali died in judicial custody in April 2007, the petition said.

The petitioner also demanded that narco-analysis tests be conducted on the accused and the suspects in the matter.

Additional Solicitor General B A Desai told the High Court that the CBI has already recorded the statement of G N Patil and a probe was underway.

Desai also handed over the investigation file to the court.