Pawanraje Nimbalkar Murder Case
Cloud TV Desk: A two-decade-old political murder case in Maharashtra has unexpectedly resurfaced at the center of a fresh political crisis for Uddhav Thackeray and his Shiv Sena (UBT) faction.
The case involves the 2006 murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, a politically influential figure from the Osmanabad (now Dharashiv) region. A Special CBI Court recently moved closer to delivering its verdict in the long-running case after examining more than 120 witnesses over nearly 20 years.
At the heart of the latest political controversy is Pawanraje’s son, Omraje Nimbalkar, who has long been considered one of the most loyal supporters of Uddhav Thackeray. However, reports indicate that he is among a group of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs who are considering breaking away from the party, a development that has stunned Maharashtra’s political circles.
Pawanraje Nimbalkar was seen as a rising political force in Osmanabad and was regarded as a challenger to the dominance of veteran politician Padamsinh Patil. Prosecutors alleged that political rivalry led to a contract killing conspiracy. On June 3, 2006, Nimbalkar and his driver were shot dead near Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai. The investigation was later handed over to the CBI.
The case remained one of Maharashtra’s most high-profile political murder trials and continued to influence regional politics long after the killing.
According to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, the timing of the court verdict and the sudden political moves by Omraje Nimbalkar are not unrelated. Raut has alleged that pressure linked to the murder case verdict may have played a role in the MP’s decision to distance himself from Uddhav Thackeray’s camp.
The allegations emerged amid reports of a fresh operation to attract Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs to the rival camp led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Political observers have dubbed the effort “Operation Tiger.”
The rebellion has revived memories of the 2022 split in Shiv Sena that brought down Uddhav Thackeray’s government and led to Eknath Shinde’s rise as Chief Minister. Reports suggest that several MPs are being targeted for defection ahead of key parliamentary sessions.
Although Uddhav Thackeray recently held an emergency meeting with party MPs and leaders claimed that all MPs had reaffirmed their loyalty, speculation continues over the future of the party’s parliamentary strength.
For many political analysts, the developments surrounding Omraje Nimbalkar show how unresolved political rivalries and decades-old events can continue to influence Maharashtra’s political landscape.
© Copyright 2026, cloudTV. All Rights Reserved
