A special CBI Court in Mumbai on Saturday acquitted all eight men accused of murdering Maharashtra Congress leader Pavanraje Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Kazi in 2006, including former NCP Minister Padamsinh Patil,

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had relied on an approver's testimony to back up its allegations against the accused.

However, Additional Sessions Judge Satyanarayan Ramjivan Navandar observed that the investigating agency had failed to establish the chain of circumstances necessary to prove the alleged murder conspiracy beyond any reasonable doubt.

A detailed order is awaited. 

On June 3, 2006, Congress leader Pavanraje Nimbalkar and his driver were shot dead in a car by assailants.

The prime accused in the case was now-86 year old Padamsinh Patil, a former NCP minister and ex-Maharashtra Home Minister. He is also the brother of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.

The CBI had alleged that Patil had orchestrated a contract killing worth approximately ₹30–35 lakh against Nimbalkar, driven by political rivalry and disputes over the management of the Terna Sugar Factory.

The other accused in the case included businessman Satish Mandade, former corporator Mohan Shukla, Parasmal Jain, former excise inspector Shashikant Kulkarni, BSP worker Kailash Yadav, and alleged shooters Dinesh Tiwari, Pintu Singh, and Chote Pandey.

Jain later turned approver.

Today, the court has acquitted the remaining eight accused, including Padamsinh Patil.

Twenty-nine of the 128 witnesses examined during the trial turned hostile.

The CBI is likely to appeal the acquittal before the High Court.