Harshad Ponda, defence lawyer for Pravin Mahajan, accused of murdering his brother and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pravin Mahajan on Thursday filed an application seeking to withdraw from the case.

A heated argument between Ponda and special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam over scheduling of arguments of the witnesses forced Ponda to withdraw from the high-profile case. Nikam sought to examine some witnesses in the morning which defence counsel Ponda had opposed saying that he wanted to be present for the examination and could do so only if proceedings were conducted in the afternoon section.

After a brief argument on the schedule, Ponda filed an application seeking to withdraw from the case. Sessions judge S P Davare said he would consider the application and announce his decision by tomorrow.

 Pravin is accused of having entered the residence of Pramod Mahajan on April 22 last year and shooting him with his pistol resulting in his death almost a fortnight later. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges of house trespass and murder.