[Narendra Dabholkar Murder] Bail to Virendra Tawade is threat to society: CBI to Bombay High Court

Enlarging Virendra Tawade on bail is a threat to society, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said in its reply filed before the Bombay High Court opposing the bail application of the prime accused in the murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar [Dr. Virendrasinh Tawade v. State of Maharashtra & Ors.].The CBI in its reply stated that the heinous crime was committed in broad daylight on a public road, giving a feeling of absolute insecurity amongst the public that the perpetrators could strike terror on anybody at any place. "The crime gave a feeling that those who do no any act which the accused persons and the Sanatan Sanstha/ Hindu Jan Jagruti Samiti doesn't like or tolerate will be dealt in a brutal manner. Such a feeling/ fear are more than sufficient to threaten the security of the people and the nation. It had a terrorizing effect on the society,” the reply said..Other grounds raised in the affidavit are:That the well-planned murder of Dabholkar attracted provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act as it created fear and terror in the minds of people and intimidated a section of society and social activists;That three earlier bail applications by Tawade had been rejected and there had been no change in circumstance since;Tawade had personal animosity with Dabholkar dating back to the year 2002. The agency supported its claim by referring to an incident where Tawde conspired to vandalise a programme wherein Dabholkar was a guest speaker; That Tawade, in 2007, had been instructed by Dr Durgesh Samant, National spokesperson of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, to leave all assignments and concentrate on Dabholkar’s Andhshraddha Nirmulan Bill ((Abolition of Superstitious Practices Bill);That charges are framed by Sessions Court against all accused including Tawade. .Dabholkar, founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) (an organisation working towards eradication of superstitious activities) was shot by two assailants during a morning walk in Pune in 2013.After his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Tawade was charged with offences under Sections 302 (murder) read with Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.Additionally, he was charged with offences under Section 16 (terrorist act) of the UAPA and provisions of the Arms Act..After filing of two chargesheets and considering there seemed to be a delay in starting the trial, Tawade approached the Court with a third application for bail which was rejected in September 2020.Aggrieved by the order, Tawade moved the High Court in appeal through advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar.Tawade submitted that the trial court erred in holding that he had been previously convicted in a bomb blast case as a co-conspirator.He claimed that the Special Court erred in holding that there have been no change in circumstances, despite the third application having been filed 2 years after the previous application.Read more about the charges framed by the special court against the accused here.