Shrikant Khandalkar

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

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1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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.