Dabholkar case: Lawyer remanded to police custody

A day after advocate Sanjeev Punalekar and his aide Vikram Bhave were arrested for the murder of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, a special court in Pune remanded the two to CBI custody till June 1.

Punalekar, the national secretary of the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad and Bhave, a convict in the 2008 Gadkari Rangayatan blast case, was out on bail, were accused of destruction of evidence in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case.

Punalekar, who was also the lawyer of the 'Sanatan Sanstha', was seen defending the accused and addressing press conferences on TV channels. Bhave used to help Punalekar in legal work.

Amidst tight security, the duo were produced before additional sessions judge SN Sonawane, who sent him to CBI remand.

The CBI told the court on Sunday that Punalekar had allegedly asked Sharad Kalaskar, one of the shooters arrested in the case, to destroy the weapons used in the killing of Dabholkar and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

It also said Bhave had allegedly assisted the shooters and conducted a reconnaissance of the spot, where Dabholkar was shot at.

So far, six persons have been arrested — which include ENT surgeon Dr Virendrasinh Tawde, Sachin Andure, Sharad Kalaskar, Amol Kale and Amit Digvekar.