Maharashtra: Gauri Lankesh Murder Accused Shrikant Pangarkar Wins Jalna Civic Poll

Shrikant Pangarkar, one of the accused in the 2017 murder of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, has been elected as a corporator in the Jalna Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra.

Pangarkar contested the civic election as an Independent candidate from Ward No. 13 and emerged victorious in a closely fought contest. According to election officials, he secured 2,661 votes, defeating BJP candidate Raosaheb Dhoble, who received 2,477 votes.

Notably, almost all major political parties—barring the Shiv Sena—fielded candidates against Pangarkar in the ward, reflecting the political sensitivity surrounding his candidature.

Pangarkar is no stranger to local politics. He previously served as a member of the Jalna Municipal Council between 2001 and 2006, during a period when the Shiv Sena remained undivided. After being denied a party ticket in 2011, he parted ways with the Sena and later joined the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.

The election outcome has reignited attention on Pangarkar’s alleged role in the killing of Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. The assassination had triggered nationwide protests and condemnation across political and civil society circles.

In August 2018, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Pangarkar under multiple stringent laws, including the Explosives Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. After years of legal proceedings, he was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on September 4, 2024.

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