'If Patil proved guilty, NCP will dissociate itself from him'

"If the charges are proved, then the NCP will completely dissociate itself from Patil," senior NCP leader and Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters here.

He, however, noted that it was too early to comment on the involvement of the NCP MP into the crime.

"As of now, the party has nothing to do with it (the case) as it is something between the investigative agencies and Patil," the Union Minister said.

Patil, an MP from Osmanabad in Marathawada region, was arrested by the CBI yesterday in connection with the murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver Samad Kazi, who were shot dead in a car in Navi Mumbai in June 2006.

The CBI lawyer told a court that two of the arrested accused had claimed that Patil had given a 'supari' (contract) for the killing of Nimbalkar, his cousin, due to business rivalry. Patil has rubbished the charge.