Shrikant Khandalkar was a lawyer known for filing public interest litigation in India. He died Sunday 29 November 2015.

On Sunday 29 November 2015 Khandalkar was found dead.[1] Police determined that the death was a suicide.[1] His body was injured after falling 8 stories from a window.[1] He held a suicide note which explained that he had serious health problems.[1] The lack of proper lighting in the courthouse was named as an explanation for why no one noticed the danger.[1] The Hitavada reported that he was alive for some hours before he was able to go to the hospital, where he died.[2][3] Khandalkar had been in conflict with various organizations over lawsuits, and this may have contributed to his poor condition.[4][3] Nagpur Today described the death as mysterious.[5]

In 2019 a group of lawyers requested a probe into the deaths of Khandalkar, Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, and retired judge Prakash Thombre.[6] These three were legal colleagues and all died in strange ways.[7]

Congress politician Kapil Sibal stated his opinion that Khandalkar was murdered.[8][9]

Khandalkar helped to expose the Maharashtra Irrigation Scam.[10]

In 2011 Khandalkar represented university faculty who called for review of the appointment of university chancellors.[11]

In 2013 Khandalkar praised the Government of Maharashtra for committing to establish the Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur.[12] Previously Khandalkar had filed public interest litigation advocating for this.[12] Also in 2013 in Nagpur, Khandalkar filed for investigation about the sale of public land to a private real estate development company.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bose, Soumittra S. (30 November 2015). "Lawyer commits suicide in Nagpur district court premises". The Times of India.
  2. "The Hitavada". 1 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 FP Staff (1 December 2015). "Shrikant Khandalkar, the lawyer who helped expose irrigation scam, found dead in Nagpur court". Firstpost.
  4. सय्यद, झियाऊद्दीन (30 November 2015). "अ‍ॅड. श्रीकांत खंडाळकर यांची आत्महत्या". Loksatta (in Marathi).
  5. "Advocate Shrikant Khandalkar dead body found in mysterious circumstances in District Court premises". Nagpur Today. 29 November 2015.
  6. Times News Network (11 December 2019). "Lawyers demand probe into 3 deaths". The Times of India.
  7. Indo-Asian News Service (31 January 2018). "SIT probe needed Loya's death as 'serious questions unanswered': Congress". Business Standard.
  8. Sanyal, Anindita (31 January 2018). "Congress Questions Judge Loya's Death, Says "Circumstances Tell A Story"". NDTV.
  9. Wire Staff (31 January 2018). "Congress for Probe Into Loya's Death, Sees Foul Play in Death of Two Associates". The Wire.
  10. Times News Network (29 November 2015). "Senior lawyer associated with Maharashtra irrigation scam found dead". The Times of India.
  11. Mahajani, Urvi (6 April 2011). "Governor gets second court notice in 3 weeks". Hindustan Times.
  12. 1 2 "Legal fraternity welcomes move to set up law university at Nagpur". Nagpur Today. 9 October 2013.
  13. "Income Tax deptt tracking alleged Rs 100 cr deal by Rachna Constructions". Nagpur Today. 15 October 2013.
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