Ujjwal Nikam

Ujjwal Deorao Nikam
Ujjwal Nikam in 2014
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 July 2025
Nominated byDroupadi Murmu
Preceded byMahesh Jethmalani
ConstituencyNominated (Law)
Personal details
Born (1953-03-30) 30 March 1953[1]
Jalgaon, Bombay State, India
PartyBharatiya Janata Party
SpouseJyoti Nikam
ChildrenAniket Nikam, Sharwari Nikam
OccupationSpecial public prosecutor
Known for
Leading prosecutions in high-profile murder and terrorism cases
Awards
Padma Shri (2016)

Ujjwal Deorao Nikam (born 30 March 1953) is an Indian special public prosecutor who has worked on prominent murder and terrorism cases. He has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India, representing the field of law in 2025. He helped prosecute suspects in the 1993 Bombay bombings, the Gulshan Kumar murder case, the Pramod Mahajan murder case, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was also the special public prosecutor in the 2013 Mumbai gang rape case, 2016 Kopardi rape and murder case.[2][3] Ujjwal Nikam argued on behalf of the state during the 26/11 Mumbai attack trial.

Nikam was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2016.[4]

He has been given a security detail with a classification of Z+, the second highest level of security in India.[5]

He was fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party from Mumbai North Central candidate during the 2024 Indian general election, he lost by a margin of 16,514 votes (1.81%).[6][7]

He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Droupadi Murmu in 2025 for recognition of his distinguished contributions in the field of law, particularly for his role as a public prosecutor in several high-profile criminal and terrorism cases.[8][9]

Early life and education

Nikam was born in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, to Marathi parents. His father, Deoraoji Nikam, was a judge and barrister, and his mother was a homemaker.[1]

After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree, he earned a law degree from the K.C.E. Society's S. S. Maniyar Law College in Jalgaon.[10] His son, Aniket, is also a criminal lawyer in High Court Mumbai.[11]

Personal life

Ujjwal Nikam has two children, Aniket Nikam and Sharvari Nikam.

Career

Nikam began his career as a district prosecutor in Jalgaon and worked his way up to state and national trials. In a 30-year career, he has secured 628 life imprisonments and 37 death penalties.

Rape and murder cases

  • Murder of Gulshan Kumar (1997): Kumar, a Bollywood film producer, was shot on 12 August 1997 outside a temple in Andheri. Nineteen people were charged in the case, but all except one were acquitted in 2002.[16]
  • Marine Drive rape case (2005): Police constable Sunil More was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl in a police station on Marine Drive in Mumbai and sentenced to 12 years in prison.[17]
  • Khairlanji massacre (2006): A Dalit family was beaten and murdered in Khairlanji, a small village in Maharashtra, on 29 September 2006 by a mob from the more powerful Kunbi caste. On 15 September 2008, six people were sentenced to death and two others given life imprisonment in the killings. The death sentences were later commuted to life in prison.[18]
  • Murder of Pramod Mahajan (2006): Mahajan, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was shot by his younger brother, Pravin Mahajan, after a family dispute on 22 April 2006. Pravin was sentenced to life in prison in December 2007.[19]
  • Shakti Mills gang rape (2013): In a verdict on 4 April 2014, three repeat offenders were sentenced to death for gang-raping a photojournalist at the Shakti Mills compound in Mumbai, and a fourth received a life term.[20]
  • Murder of Pallavi Purkayastha (2013): Purkayastha, a 25-year-old woman living in Wadala, was fatally stabbed by a watchman in her building, Sajjad Moghul, after she resisted his attempts to rape her.[21] Moghul was sentenced to life in prison in July 2014.[22]
  • Murder of Preeti Rathi (2013): Ankur Panwar was convicted and sentenced to death in September 2016 for killing Rathi, a 23-year-old woman, with acid on 2 May 2013 after she rejected his marriage proposal.[23]
  • Kopardi rape and murder case (2016): In July 2016, a 15-year-old girl was gang-raped and strangled in the village of Kopardi, in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Nikam opened the trial against three defendants in local court on 19 October 2016.[24] Sessions court awards death sentence to all 3 convicts.[25]
  • Mohsin Shaikh's murder case (2014): On 2 June 2014, Mohsin Shaikh, an IT professional working as an IT manager in a private textile firm, was attacked and killed allegedly by the Hindu Rashtra Sena while he was returning from a prayer at Unnati Nagar. Shaikh's family sought Nikam's appointment as the public prosecutor in a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis. Subsequently, he was made the special public prosecutor in the case by the Government of Maharashtra.[26][27]

Terrorism cases

  • 1991 Kalyan bombing: Ravinder Singh was convicted of bombing a railway station in Kalyan on 8 November 1991, killing 12 people.[28]
  • 1993 Bombay bombings: A special court was set up in 2000 under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act to try suspects in the series of 13 explosions that took place in Bombay (now Mumbai) on 12 March 1993, killing 257 people in what was then India's worst terrorist attack.[29] The trial lasted almost 14 years, and dozens of people were convicted.[30]
  • 2003 Gateway of India bombing: Two car bombs went off in Mumbai on 25 August 2003, one at a jewelry market and the other at the Gateway of India, a popular tourist attraction.[31] Three men were convicted and sentenced to death in August 2009.[32]
  • 2008 Mumbai attacks: The three-day siege of Mumbai in November 2008—which targeted luxury hotels, a Jewish center, and other sites[33]—left more than 160 people dead.[34] Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive by the police, was sentenced to death on 6 May 2010 and hanged on 21 November 2012.[34][35]

In December 2010, Nikam represented the Government of India at a worldwide convention on terrorism held at the United Nations in New York.[36]

Controversies

Nikam has faced certain serious controversies during his legal career.

Azmal Kasab Biryani story

In March 2025, Nikam told during media interaction that "Kasab never demanded biryani and (it) was never served (to him) by the government." He added to it that "I concocted it just to break an emotional atmosphere which was taking shape in favour of Kasab during the trial of the case." This led to widespread reactions and rebukes from many quarters, including the legal fraternity, which called it completely unethical and improper. The Maharashtra Government also sought an explanation from Nikam on this matter. [37] [38][39]

Khairjanji Caste angle

Nigam has been accused of diluting the caste angle in 2006 Khairlanji massacre in Maharashtra. In the given case, Surekha Bhotmange, her daughter and two sons, including a disabled one, were brutally murdered allegedly by an upper-caste mob. The case soon became a becoming example of Caste based violence, particularly against the people belonging to the Dalit caste. Nigam was the Public prosecutor in this case. It has been seriously alleged by many Scheduled Caste groups that Nigam intentionally downplayed the role of caste in the given incidence, thereby indirectly assisting the accused. [40] [41][42]

Theatrics in rape cases

Nikam has come under severe criticism from Human Rights groups and women rights groups for his alleged "unnecessary" and "unwarranted" theatrics in rape cases, allegedly exposing his anti-women sexist and patriarchical mindset. [43][44]

Political Bias

Nigam has been accused of having leaning towards a particular ideology and a particular political party, which had resulted in his being questioned as regards his legal works as being an offshoot of these personal biases, thereby questioning their neutrality and his fundamental integrity as a Public prosecutor. [45][46] [47]

In 2017, Nikam's life story was made into a film, Aadesh - Power of Law.[48]

Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, based on the life and times of Nikam, is an upcoming Hindi film directed by Avinash Arun with Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Tarun Sharma and Sikandar Kher in the lead roles. The expected date of release is 07 August 2026. [49] [50]

References

  1. 1 2 "Who is Ujjwal Nikam, BJP's LS candidate and 26/11 prosecutor who used the controversial 'biryani' story to convict Ajmal Kasab?". The Economic Times. 27 April 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "Finish photojournalist rape trial in 60 days, Ujjwal Nikam told | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Dnaindia.com. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "How Ujjwal Nikam sparked missing rape suspect rumours". Mumbai Mirror. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Padma awards 2016 declared: Anupam Kher, Rajinikanth, Vinod Rai, Sania Mirza honoured among others". DNA. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Vijapurkar, Mahesh (6 June 2017). "Ujjwal Nikam's phones stolen while his guards slept: Z-Plus security isn't all it's cracked up to be". First Post.
  6. ↑ "2024 Loksabha Elections Results - Mumbai North Central". Election Commission of India. 4 June 2024. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "Mumbai North Central Constituency Lok Sabha Election Results 2014 - 2024". The Times of India. 4 June 2024. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  8. ↑ "Mumbai Blasts Lawyer, Ex Foreign Secretary Among 4 To Get Rajya Sabha Pass". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "President Murmu nominates four to Rajya Sabha, including former Foreign Secretary Shringla, 26/11 prosecutor Nikam". The Hindu. 13 July 2025. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "5 Facts on Ujjwal Nikam, BJP's Candidate For Mumbai North Central Seat". NDTV.com. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "Meet Ujjwal Nikam, BJP Lok Sabha candidate who cooked up 'biryani' story to nail Ajmal Kasab". Hindustan Times. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "Bombay HC grants pre-arrest bail to 3 GRP cops accused in Rajasthan jeweller's extortion, assault case". The Times of India. 16 September 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Maharashtra: FIR filed after Congress post on X showing a BJP office in flames". The Indian Express. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "HC grants pre-arrest bail to 3 GRP personnel booked for extorting jeweller". Hindustan Times. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  15. ↑ Vidya (14 April 2025). "Court grants bail in child sexual assault case, cites insufficient evidence". India Today. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Gulshan case: 1 convicted, 18 freed". The Times of India. 24 April 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  17. ↑ Thakurdesai, Prerana (17 April 2006). "Marine Drive rape case: Sunil Atmaram More sentenced to 12 years imprisonment". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "Death sentences dropped for mob murder of Dalit family". BBC News. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "Pravin Mahajan sentenced to life term". indiaabroad.com. 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  20. ↑ "Shakti Mills gang-rape case: Three repeat offenders get death, life term for one | Zee News". Zeenews.india.com. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  21. ↑ "'Pervert' watchman murdered Pallavi: Police". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  22. ↑ "Pallavi Purkayastha murder case: life sentence to guilty watchman sajjad moghul". Patrika Group. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  23. ↑ "Preeti Rathi murder case convict gets death sentence". The Hindu. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  24. ↑ Staff Reporter (20 October 2016). "Trial in Kopardi rape and murder case begins". PTI News. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "Kopardi rape and murder case: Sessions court awards death sentence to all 3 convicts". TimesNow. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  26. ↑ "Mohsin Shaikh murder case: Family writes to CM, seeks appointment of Ujjwal Nikam as public prosecutor". The Indian Express. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  27. ↑ "Another accused gets bail in Mohsin Shaikh murder case". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  28. ↑ "1991 Kalyan Station Blast: Convict who jumped parole held in Punjab". The Indian Express. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  29. ↑ Ramesh, Randeep (12 September 2006). "Underworld family guilty of 1993 Mumbai bombings". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  30. ↑ "Full list of convicted and acquitted in 1993 Mumbai blasts case". India TV News. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  31. ↑ "BBC ON THIS DAY | 25 | 2003: Bombay rocked by twin car bombs". BBC News. 25 August 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  32. ↑ "Three get death for Gateway, Zaveri Bazar blasts". The Times of India. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  33. ↑ Sengupta, Somini (26 November 2008). "At Least 100 Dead in India Terror Attacks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  34. 1 2 Singh, Harmeet Shah (21 November 2012). "India executes last gunman from Mumbai attacks". CNN. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  35. ↑ Bhowmick, Nilanjana (21 November 2012). "Kasab's Execution: After Hanging 2008 Terrorist, What Lessons Has India Learned?". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  36. ↑ "Ujjwal Nikam to represent India at convention on terrorism in U.N." The Hindu. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  37. ↑ "Nikam's biryani lie draws ire of legal eagles, may harm his career". India Today. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  38. ↑ "Ujjwal Nikam versus Ajmal Kasab: The BJP's campaign pitch in Mumbai North Central". Caravan. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  39. ↑ "Explain Faking the Biryani Remark, Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam Ordered". NDTV. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  40. ↑ "Pursuit of Justice". India Today. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  41. ↑ "Verdict Blind to Dalit cause". Times of India. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  42. ↑ "'Nikam diluted caste-hatred angle in Khairlanji case'". DNA. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  43. ↑ "Nikam's arguments in rape case come under fire". the Hindu. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  44. ↑ "The Avenger". Caravan. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  45. ↑ "Murder accused moves Mumbai court against Ujjwal Nikam's reinstatement as special public prosecutor". the Indian Express. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  46. ↑ "Ujjwal Nikam resigns as special public prosecutor from 29 cases". The Indian express. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  47. ↑ "Murder accused moves SC against Ujjwal Nikam's appointment as special public prosecutor". The Print. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "Irrfan Khan, Priyanshu Chatterjee to work in film on Abu Salem". Hindustan Times. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  49. ↑ "Prahaar - The Ujjwal Nikam Story". IMDb. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  50. ↑ "Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi and Jaideep Ahlawat starrer 'Prahaar - The Ujjwal Nikam Story' slated for August 7 2026 release". hollywoodreporterindia.com. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
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