5 Fascinating Facts About Ujjwal Nikam, BJP’s Candidate for Mumbai North Central Seat

Ujjwal Nikam is renowned for his prominent role as the prosecutor in several high-profile court cases. Born in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon on March 30, 1953, to lawyer Deorao Madhavrao Nikam and Vimaladevi, a well-known freedom fighter, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree and obtained his law degree from SS Maniyar Law College in Jalgaon.

Notably, in 1991, Nikam played a crucial part in convicting Ravinder Singh for the Kalyan bomb blast. His career took a significant turn in 1993 when he became the public prosecutor for the Mumbai serial blasts case, working for over 14 years in the special court established under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

Nikam gained widespread recognition as the public prosecutor in the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured after the 26/11 attacks, advocating successfully for Kasab’s death penalty. Additionally, in 2006, he served as the prosecutor in the murder case of Pramod Mahajan, who was fatally shot by his brother Pravin after a dispute.

Following his involvement in the 26/11 case, Nikam was provided with Z-plus security in 2009 and was eventually honored with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2016. In a recent development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has selected Ujjwal Nikam as its candidate for the Mumbai North Central constituency in Maharashtra, replacing Poonam Mahajan.

This constituency comprises six assembly segments and is set to go to polls on May 20, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. This signifies a significant political move and underlines Nikam’s growing influence in the public sphere.