Dabholkar case: Sanatan Sanstha advocate Punalekar gets bail
NPnews24 Online Pune : A special court on Friday granted bail to Sanatan Sanstha lawyer Sanjiv Punalekar in Narendra Dabholkar murder case. The special court has ordered Punalekar to attend the CBI office every Monday and Thursday, not leave the country and not to put pressure on any witnesses.
Punalekar and his assistant Vikram Bhave were arrested on May 25 in regards to the case.
Punalekar and his assistant Vikram Bhave were arrested on May 25 in regards to the case.
The arrest is based on arrested accused Sharad Kalaskar’s statement about their role in the destruction of weapon that killed Dabholkar. Bhave had also shown the spot where Dabholkar was to be shot dead, officials said.
Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had termed the murder as an act of terrorism.
In 2016, the agency had arrested Dr Virendrasinh Tawde from Sanatan Sanstha and had filed a chargesheet against him in September 2016.
Other accused are Sharad Kalaskar, Sachin Andure, Amol Kale, Rajesh Bangera and Amit Digvekar.
Other accused are Sharad Kalaskar, Sachin Andure, Amol Kale, Rajesh Bangera and Amit Digvekar.
Their names had also floated during an investigation by the Karnataka police in journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder case.
On August 20, 2013, the founder of Maharashtra Andhshradha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) Dr Narendra Dabholkar at 730 am was on a morning walk on Vitthal Ramji Shinde Bridge between Omkareshwar Temple and Balgamdharv auditorium, when two men on a motorcycle approached him and fired four rounds from close range from a pistol.
Few policemen were on nakabandi duty near the temple but they did not hear any gunshot. A passerby informed them and the cops rushed to check the man lying in a pool of blood. Initially, they did not recognise him and thinking that he was already dead, the body remained there for about 1 hour. Later, they identified him as Dabholkar.
An FIR for murder was registered with Deccan Gymkhana police station by Pune city police against unidentified persons.
On August 20, 2013, the founder of Maharashtra Andhshradha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) Dr Narendra Dabholkar at 730 am was on a morning walk on Vitthal Ramji Shinde Bridge between Omkareshwar Temple and Balgamdharv auditorium, when two men on a motorcycle approached him and fired four rounds from close range from a pistol.
Few policemen were on nakabandi duty near the temple but they did not hear any gunshot. A passerby informed them and the cops rushed to check the man lying in a pool of blood. Initially, they did not recognise him and thinking that he was already dead, the body remained there for about 1 hour. Later, they identified him as Dabholkar.
An FIR for murder was registered with Deccan Gymkhana police station by Pune city police against unidentified persons.
The State government had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh, while Pune police had announced Rs 1 lakh for information about assailants of Dabholkar. The case was handed over to Pune police Crime Branch.
To investigate the murder, Pune Police had set up 23 investigating teams. The attackers were near the crime scene for about 45 minutes. Police had seized CCTV footages but they were unclear. A man staying in a building opposite the temple had seen the assailants and he helped cops prepare their sketches but that also did not help.
Police investigated against all those whom Dabholkar had made complaints about. Police also took the help of retired officers to crack the case.
Police investigated against all those whom Dabholkar had made complaints about. Police also took the help of retired officers to crack the case.
The criminals lodged in various jails in Maharashtra were also questioned but in vain. Pune police had also consulted some astrologers. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) also started a parallel investigation of the murder case.
On August 28, 2013, Dabholkar’s children Dr Hamid and Mukta Dabholkar met the Commissioner of Police Gulabrao Pol and said that they will not be satisfied until the attacker was arrested.
Since beginning of the investigation, police suspected involvement of right-wing Hindu organisation Sanatan Sanstha in Dabholkar’s murder case.
Since beginning of the investigation, police suspected involvement of right-wing Hindu organisation Sanatan Sanstha in Dabholkar’s murder case.
One youth from the organisation was detained in Goa by Faraskhana police, but he was released within a few hours.
The CCTV footage collected by Pune police were unclear and they were sent to a forensic lab in London.
The CCTV footage collected by Pune police were unclear and they were sent to a forensic lab in London.
Meanwhile, Thane police had arrested arms dealer Manish Nagori and Vikas Khandelwal. Pune police suspected that the duo might have provided the weapon to Dabholkar’s killers.
The duo was arrested in connection with the murder case of a security guard at Pune University. But actually, police wanted to investigate their role in Dabholkar case. Later, the case was transferred to the CBI.
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