Zee Media Bureau
Jalgoan: In a major embarrassment for former President Pratibha Patil, her brother has been named an accused in a murder case by a local court.
A court in Jalgoan, Maharashtra, named Gajendra Narayan Patil as an accused in the death of Vishram Patil.
Vishram Patil was allegedly hacked to death in September 2005. He was an English professor and was killed in Maharashtra, about 400 kilometres from Mumbai.
His car is reported to have been stoned. Later, it is said, he was stabbed to death.
As per reports, the professor`s killing was considered a case of political rivalry. Vishram had defeated Gajendra in local polls which was held to head the District Congress Committee.
The professor`s wife has reportedly alleged that the mastermind behind the her husband`s killing was former President’s brother.
The Bombay High Court had assigned the case to the CBI in 2007.
Gajendra is former President`s younger brother. Along with him, former MLA Ulhas Patil has also been named as an accused in the case.
Pratibha Patil was the twelfth President of India and served from 2007 to 2012. She was the first woman to hold the office.
She became the President after Abdul Kalam demitted office. She defeated Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to occupy the top post. She was backed by the then Congress-led UPA government and the Left for the post of President.
Patil, a Congress member, was succeeded as President by Pranab Mukherjee.
