[Govind Pansare Murder] State CID tells Bombay High Court willing to form fresh team or transfer probe to ATS

The State CID's Special Investigation Team (SIT) told the Bombay High Court on Monday that it would either form a fresh team of officers to further investigate the murder of activist Govind Pansare or is willing to transfer the probe to the State's Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS)..A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sharmila Deshmukh, however, opined that transferring the case would mean starting from the scratch."We believe that if a new team of the CID is appointed or even if the probe is transferred to the ATS, it would mean to start from point zero. Thus, we would suggest if few officers of the ATS could be made part of the existing SIT to probe the case further," Justice Dere said. This suggestion, was however, opposed by special public prosecutor Ashok Mundargi, who represented the SIT. He said, usually such a course is not allowed as the ATS and CID are two different agencies. At this, Justice Dere said, "But Mr Mundargi, this would serve the purpose. Please take instructions if officers from the ATS, especially those who probed the Nalasopara arms haul case in 2018 could be made part of the present SIT.".The Court was hearing a plea filed by Smita Pansare, daughter of deceased Pansare, who was shot down by some extremists on February 20, 2015.The family through advocate Abhay Nevagi pointed out the snail pace at which the probe was moving in the case."The crime took place in 2015 yet the trial in this case has not commenced. It may be noted that in similar crimes wherein these accused shot down rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, MM Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh, the trial has started," Nevagi highlighted.Nevagi further informed the bench that in 2018, the State ATS had cracked a case wherein huge quantity of arms and ammunition was seized from some men, who were located in Nalasopara, which is neighbouring Mumbai."They got a breakthrough from that case. Some accused arrested in that case were named as accused and identified as sharp shooters in the cases of Kalburgi and Dabholkar. The sharpshooters, who shot Pansare are yet to be brought to the book," he contended. He further added that these men were from Hindu right wing groups, who even conspired to execute a blast at the annual Sunburn festival in Pune and that even a "hitlist" of 40 prominent persons was recovered from them. .During the hearing, Mundargi submitted that the two sharpshooters Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar are still absconding. "The duo is wanted even in Kalburgi case. In fact, CBI, NIA both the central agencies have failed in tracing them. Our existing SIT comprising of 30 to 35 officers also have been trying our best to locate them. We are yet to succeed," Mundargi told the judges, adding that in this background the CID has decided to constitute a fresh team.To this, the bench sought to know as to what would the state achieve now by the new team. "When it is your case that some competent officers were looking after this case. What are you going to achieve by bringing in fresh officers in the team?" the Court enquired.The bench, therefore, reiterated that the CID must consider it's suggestion to include some ATS officers in the existing SIT to further probe the case.The matter was adjourned for further hearing till August 3.