Mumbai, Mar 21 (UNI) Nearly a year after murder of senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, the case trial began today with the examination of two out of total 58 witnesses in a city court.

Besides examination of the clothes of Rekha, wife of the late Mahajan, panch witness Mahendra Sawant identified the night gown Rekha had worn at the time of the crime on the morning of April 22, last year at their home in Worli.

During the examination by Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam in the court of Additional Session Judge S P Davare, the panch witness told the court there were blood stains on the gown. He also confirmed his signature that was taken by the police on the 'panchnama' papers.

Second witness was a civil engineering student Gaurav Nandgaonkar, who had prepared two maps of Pramod Mahajan's living room at his Worli home where the incident occurred.

During the cross-examination by defence lawyer Harshad Ponda, he said he did not take measurement of any other room except the living room.

Twelve days after he was allegedly shot at by his younger brother Pravin Mahajan, the BJP leader succumbed to the gunshot wounds in the Hinduja Hospital here on May 3, 2006.

Pravin surrendered before the Worli police along with the firearm he had used in the crime.

He is facing trial on the charges of murder and criminal trespass, which were framed on January 23.

Pravin is at present lodged in a high-security cell of Arthur Road Jail since his arrest on April 22, last year.

UNI