Ujjwal Nikam Appointed Special Public Prosecutor in Ketan Agarwal Case; Family Praises CM Fadnavis

Advocate Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as the special public prosecutor in the case arising from the death of Ketan Agarwal — a matter reported in Marathi-language news as the “Lohgad Ketan Agarwal” case and described in different headlines as both a death case and a murder case. Coverage by ABP Majha, Divya Marathi and Esakal indicates that the victim’s family has accepted the appointment and reportedly praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The headlines do not state the date of the incident, its location, the charges involved, or the identities of any accused persons.

Who is Ujjwal Nikam?

Ujjwal Nikam is a senior criminal lawyer practising from Mumbai who has been appointed by the Maharashtra government on numerous occasions as a special public prosecutor in sensitive or high-profile matters. He previously served as Additional Solicitor General of India and is best known nationally for leading the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab, the lone captured gunman of the 26 November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Kasab was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to death. Over a career spanning decades, Nikam has also appeared for the state in cases involving terrorism, organised crime, underworld figures, politicians and entertainment-industry personalities — experience that appears relevant to the appointment he has now received in the Ketan Agarwal matter. A familiar figure in Maharashtra’s legal public life, his court appearances and appointments regularly attract news coverage in their own right.

What do the headlines say about the Ketan Agarwal case?

Three Marathi news outlets reported the development, and their headlines align on the essential point — that Ujjwal Nikam has been made special public prosecutor:

• ABP Majha: in the Lohgad Ketan Agarwal death case, finally the appointment of Ujjwal Nikam has been accepted by family members.
• Divya Marathi: in the Lohgad Ketan Agarwal murder case, a big twist — Ujjwal Nikam is special public prosecutor, and family members have praised CM Fadnavis.
• Esakal: Advocate Ujjwal Nikam has been made special public prosecutor.

Did the victim’s family accept the appointment and praise the chief minister?

On the basis of these headlines, yes. Divya Marathi reports that relatives of Ketan Agarwal praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while ABP Majha indicates that the appointment of Ujjwal Nikam was finally accepted by family members — which suggests the government’s choice of counsel had been awaited before being agreed to. None of the headlines quote the relatives directly, so the precise reasons for their satisfaction, and whether any conditions were set, cannot be confirmed from this coverage alone.

What is a special public prosecutor in India?

Under Section 24 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, a state government may appoint a special public prosecutor to conduct a prosecution in any particular district or local area. The power exists so that the state can assign experienced, trusted counsel to particular cases instead of relying solely on the district’s permanent public prosecutors, and fees are paid from government funds. Such appointments are commonly made in cases that are sensitive, complex or likely to attract public attention — a description that fits the Ketan Agarwal matter and explains why a lawyer of Ujjwal Nikam’s profile would be brought in.

Which details about the Ketan Agarwal case remain unknown?

The headlines leave several basic facts open, and readers should treat them as unconfirmed until fuller reports appear:

• the date on which Ketan Agarwal died;
• the location of the incident;
• whether a first information report has been registered and whether a charge sheet has been filed;
• the number and identities of any accused persons; and
• what “Lohgad” denotes in the case name — a place, a family name or another identifier cannot be determined from these headlines alone.

Has Ujjwal Nikam handled comparable high-profile assignments before?

Yes. Nikam’s best-known brief was the prosecution in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack trial, which ended with Ajmal Kasab’s conviction and death sentence. His other appearances for the prosecution have covered terrorism, underworld and prominent-person cases, which has made him a recurring choice when the Maharashtra government wants an experienced counsel to present the state’s case in the public eye. The appointment in the Ketan Agarwal matter follows that established pattern, and family acceptance of it — reported by two of the three outlets — suggests the state now has a single, senior voice responsible for presenting its case.

Where can readers follow this story?

The appointment has been reported by three Marathi-language outlets: ABP Majha, Divya Marathi and Esakal. Readers tracking the Ketan Agarwal matter — including any further reaction from the family or updates on the investigation — should follow these sources, since the headlines available at the time of writing carry no detailed reporting on the case’s background.

What should readers keep in mind about this reporting?

One caution applies throughout: every fact in this article about the current event comes from three Marathi-language headlines, not from detailed reporting, court documents or police statements. The headline language itself is not uniform — ABP Majha calls the matter a death case while Divya Marathi calls it a murder case — so the precise legal characterisation of what happened to Ketan Agarwal remains to be established. Readers should treat the appointment of Ujjwal Nikam and the family’s reported approval of it as the only confirmed developments until fuller reports appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ujjwal Nikam?

Ujjwal Nikam is a Mumbai-based senior criminal lawyer and former Additional Solicitor General of India. He is best known for prosecuting Ajmal Kasab in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case, which ended in Kasab's death sentence. He is frequently appointed special public prosecutor by the Maharashtra government in high-profile criminal matters, including the Ketan Agarwal case.

What is the Ketan Agarwal case?

Marathi-language news describes it as the 'Lohgad Ketan Agarwal' matter, referred to as both a death case and a murder case. Ujjwal Nikam has been named special public prosecutor in it, and the victim's family reportedly accepted the move and praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The headlines give no date, location or charges.

What is a special public prosecutor?

Under Section 24 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, a state government can appoint a special public prosecutor to conduct particular prosecutions in any district or local area. Governments use this power to assign experienced, trusted counsel to cases that are sensitive or likely to attract public attention.

Why did the victim's family praise CM Devendra Fadnavis?

According to Divya Marathi's headline, relatives of Ketan Agarwal praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in connection with the case; ABP Majha reports that Ujjwal Nikam's appointment was finally accepted by the family. The headlines quote no one directly, so the precise reasons for the praise cannot be confirmed from this coverage.

Which news outlets reported the appointment?

The appointment has been reported by three Marathi-language outlets: ABP Majha, Divya Marathi and Esakal. Esakal's headline states simply 'Advocate Ujjwal Nikam special public prosecutor,' while the other two link the appointment to the Ketan Agarwal case and to the family's approval of Chief Minister Fadnavis.