Gauri Lankesh Murder Accused Shrikant Pangarkar Wins Jalna Civic Polls

In a major development in the Jalna Municipal Corporation election,  Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused in the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, has registered a victory from ward 13. He contested as an independent candidate, defeating candidates from the BJP and other parties to secure a seat by a winning margin of 2,621 votes.

Shrikant defeated his nearest rival, Raosaheb Dhoble of the BJP, who received 2,477 votes. He is accused of the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh that triggered nationwide outrage. The journalist was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on September 5, 2017. Pangarkar was later named as an accused in the case and was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on September 4, 2024.

Not only in Gauri Lankesh's murder case, but Shrikant was also accused in the 2018 Nalasopara arms haul case, where he was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly conspiring to disrupt the Sunburn music festival with crude bombs and weapons. He served as a municipal councillor in Jalna for the undivided Shiv Sena between 2001 and 2006.