A Pune Court today convicted two accused persons and acquitted three in the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. .Accused Sachin Andure, Sharad Kalaskar were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment along with penalties of ₹5 lakh. Dr Virendrasinh Tawade, Vikram Bhave and Sanjeev Punalekar were acquitted. Sessions judge PP Jadhav pronounced the judgment today after a trial that lasted nearly three years. The Court observed that although there was evidence of motive for murder against Tawade, and that there was reasonable suspicion against Punalekar and Bhave, the prosecution failed to establish their involvement by leading reliable evidence.However, it was proved beyond doubt that Andure and Kalaskar murdered Dabholkar by firing bullets from firearms, the Court stated..The trial had commenced only in 2021 though the sessions case had been instituted in 2016..Dabholkar, founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) was shot dead by two assailants during a morning walk in Pune in 2013.The accused, who are linked to Sanatan Sanstha organisation, were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from 2016 to 2019.The CBI took over the case in 2014 from Pune City police and filed chargesheet against 5 accused in the case.Four accused, Dr Virendrasingh Tawade, Sachin Andure, Sharad Kalaskar and Vikram Bhave were charged with offences under Sections 302 read with Section 120B for criminal conspiracy and executing the murder.Additionally they were charged with offences under Section 16 (terrorist act) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of Arms Act.Accused Sanjeev Punalekar, a Mumbai based lawyer, was charged for offence under Section 201 of IPC for causing disappearance of evidence.While Tawade, Andure and Kalaskar are in judicial custody, Bhave and Punalekar are out on bail..The charges in the case were framed by the Pune sessions court on September 15, 2021 against all five accused.The Court observed that a conspiracy to eliminate Dr. Dabholkar was hatched so as to create a terror in the mind of the people at large so that no one should undertake the work as of 'Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti'..In 2015, Dabholkar's daughter and son moved the High Court seeking the appointment of an independent Special Investigation Team and for the court to monitor the investigation carried out.From August 2015, High Court began monitoring the investigation.In December 2022, Tawade moved the Court with an interim application in the present case, to discontinue the monitoring. He contended that since the trial in the murder case has commenced, the High Court can now stop monitoring the case.Another accused also moved the Court subsequently seeking to discontinue the monitoring..During one hearing, the High Court expressed that it could not perpetually monitor the case.The investigating agency also told the Court that the trial could be concluded in two months, if it is expedited. Under these circumstances, the High Court had decided to discontinue further monitoring of the investigation..Special public prosecutor PS Suryawanshi appeared for the State. Advocate Prakash Salshingikar appeared for Tawade and Andure. Advocate Suvarna Vats appeared for Punalekar.Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar appeared for Kalaskar and Bhave. [Read judgment]
A Pune Court today convicted two accused persons and acquitted three in the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. .Accused Sachin Andure, Sharad Kalaskar were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment along with penalties of ₹5 lakh. Dr Virendrasinh Tawade, Vikram Bhave and Sanjeev Punalekar were acquitted. Sessions judge PP Jadhav pronounced the judgment today after a trial that lasted nearly three years. The Court observed that although there was evidence of motive for murder against Tawade, and that there was reasonable suspicion against Punalekar and Bhave, the prosecution failed to establish their involvement by leading reliable evidence.However, it was proved beyond doubt that Andure and Kalaskar murdered Dabholkar by firing bullets from firearms, the Court stated..The trial had commenced only in 2021 though the sessions case had been instituted in 2016..Dabholkar, founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) was shot dead by two assailants during a morning walk in Pune in 2013.The accused, who are linked to Sanatan Sanstha organisation, were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from 2016 to 2019.The CBI took over the case in 2014 from Pune City police and filed chargesheet against 5 accused in the case.Four accused, Dr Virendrasingh Tawade, Sachin Andure, Sharad Kalaskar and Vikram Bhave were charged with offences under Sections 302 read with Section 120B for criminal conspiracy and executing the murder.Additionally they were charged with offences under Section 16 (terrorist act) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of Arms Act.Accused Sanjeev Punalekar, a Mumbai based lawyer, was charged for offence under Section 201 of IPC for causing disappearance of evidence.While Tawade, Andure and Kalaskar are in judicial custody, Bhave and Punalekar are out on bail..The charges in the case were framed by the Pune sessions court on September 15, 2021 against all five accused.The Court observed that a conspiracy to eliminate Dr. Dabholkar was hatched so as to create a terror in the mind of the people at large so that no one should undertake the work as of 'Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti'..In 2015, Dabholkar's daughter and son moved the High Court seeking the appointment of an independent Special Investigation Team and for the court to monitor the investigation carried out.From August 2015, High Court began monitoring the investigation.In December 2022, Tawade moved the Court with an interim application in the present case, to discontinue the monitoring. He contended that since the trial in the murder case has commenced, the High Court can now stop monitoring the case.Another accused also moved the Court subsequently seeking to discontinue the monitoring..During one hearing, the High Court expressed that it could not perpetually monitor the case.The investigating agency also told the Court that the trial could be concluded in two months, if it is expedited. Under these circumstances, the High Court had decided to discontinue further monitoring of the investigation..Special public prosecutor PS Suryawanshi appeared for the State. Advocate Prakash Salshingikar appeared for Tawade and Andure. Advocate Suvarna Vats appeared for Punalekar.Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar appeared for Kalaskar and Bhave. [Read judgment]
