Murder accused moves Mumbai court against Ujjwal Nikam’s reinstatement as special public prosecutor

On Monday, Vijay Bhivajirao Palande, who was booked in 2012 for allegedly murdering Arunkumar Tikku, the father of an actor in Mumbai’s Oshiwara, filed an application in the sessions court seeking an order “to keep Nikam away” from the case. Palande claimed that Nikam’s reappointment was against the law and public interest and sought cancellation of the same and a fresh appointment in the case.

Palande claimed that Nikam would act to further the BJP’s agenda and alleged that he may go to any extent to get a false conviction in high-profile cases to bolster the party’s image. This, Palande said, was against the fundamental rights of the accused and his expectation of fairness.

“The fresh appointment of Nikam by BJP-led government in the state is for extraneous consideration, made with malafide intention to promote him and to make campaign through him as well as to give him hefty remunerations and facilities in (the) name of legal fees which is public money and this is favouritism and same is illegal,” the application stated.

“Nikam is not fair about the present case and is prejudiced and has a malafide intention against the applicant,” Palande claimed in his plea, which is likely to come up on June 28.