Jalna, Maharashtra: Srikant Pangarkar, accused in the high-profile 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, has won a seat in the Maharashtra municipal elections. Contesting as an independent candidate from the 13th ward of Jalna Corporation, Pangarkar defeated candidates from the BJP and other parties. The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) did not field a candidate in the ward.
Pangarkar had joined Shiv Sena prior to last year’s assembly elections, a move that sparked widespread criticism. Despite objections, the Shinde faction allowed his candidacy. He has previously served as a municipal council member in Jalna from 2001 to 2006 representing Shiv Sena. In 2011, after being denied a party ticket, he joined the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.
The 2017 case involved the killing of Gauri Lankesh at her Bengaluru residence, which triggered nationwide outrage. Pangarkar was arrested as one of the accused and was later granted bail by the Karnataka High Court in 2024. He had also been arrested in 2018 in a separate case involving the seizure of explosives and firearms.
Pangarkar’s electoral victory has once again drawn attention due to his ongoing legal controversies and past criminal allegations.