Shahid Azmi murder case trial likely to resume in June

On February 7, the high court lifted the stay on the trial, rejecting the application of an accused, seeking transfer of the case before another trial court alleging bias by the sessions court judge. The trial was on hold for six months till the plea was decided. So far, 11 witnesses have been examined.

Azmi, a criminal lawyer, was killed in his office on February 11, 2010. The Mumbai police crime branch arrested four persons — Devendra Jagtap, Hasmukh Solanki, Pintu Dagale and Vinod Vichare — in the case for allegedly executing the murder at the behest of gangster Bharat Nepali. According ot police, Jagtap shot at Azmi.

At present, all accused are on bail. Jagtap, alleged to be the main accused, was granted bail in October 2022 with the court considering the long delay in trial among the grounds for his release.

“The applicant (Jagtap) has remained incarcerated for more than 12 years as on date, and no directions of expediting trial or concluding it in the stipulated period, would offer any solace to him,” Justice Bharti Dangre said in her order.

The court said that it was not inclined to accept the prosecution’s case that the state had not been able to try Jagtap for 12 years.