ADDITIONAL Sessions Judge Ganesh Padmakar Deshmukh on Wednesday sentenced Santosh Hiralal Shahu and Laxminarayan alias Chandan Balkrishnan Nayar to rigorous life imprisonment in the sensational Anil Palkar murder case. According to the prosecution, Anil Ramdasji Palkar (48), a resident of Plot No 23, Choudhary Layout, Gopal Nagar, near the third bus stop, owned a marriage hall and lawns at Wanadongri. Palkar had rented two shops near Gopal Nagar bus stop -- Laxmi Kirana Stores to Shahu (38), a resident of Plot No 10, Pathan Layout, and Benson Bakery -- to Nayar (41), a resident of Plot No 44, Gudadhe Layout, Bhamti. There was a dispute between Palkar and the tenants over some issue.

 

Both tenants were not ready to vacate the shops. On November 9, 2020, Palkar had taken Zuber Israil Khan (25), a resident of Tipu Sultan Square, Yashodhara Nagar, and one Gautam to his lawns at Wanadongri for fabrication work and aluminium fittings. Around 8 pm, he returned near the shops on Zuber’s vehicle in an inebriated condition. He urinated near the shops. He started abusing a woman who was selling green coconut water near Benson Bakery. Shahu and Nayar came out of their shops and objected to Palkar for hurling obscene abuses at the woman. Palkar then also started abusing them. A quarrel broke out between them. Shahu and Nayar attacked Palkar with a sharp-edged knife on his neck and back. Palkar collapsed on the ground in a pool of blood.

 

Zuber Khan and family members of Palkar rushed him to Padole Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. On the complaint of Zuber Khan, Rana Pratap Nagar Police arrested Shahu and Nayar on charges under Sections 302 and 34 the Indian Penal Code. Police Inspectors B S Khandale and Dinkar Thosre investigated the case and chargesheeted Shahu and Nayar. The court examined ten prosecution witnesses. As the charges were proved against Shahu and Nayar, the court awarded rigorous life imprisonment to them with a fine of Rs 5,000 each. Additional Public Prosecutor Adv Abhay Jikar represented the State. He was assisted by Adv Pramod Upadhyaya.