Lawyer, aide arrested in Dabholkar murder case

In a significant development, the CBI on Saturday arrested veteran lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar, the spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha, in connection of the murder or rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar.

Besides Punalekar, his close aide Vikram Bhave, too was arrested.

It may be recalled, Bhave was arrested earlier in the 2008 blasts in Gadkari Rangayatan in Thane and Cineraj Theatre in Panvel. It was Punalekar who had defended him in the court.

Punalekar and Bhave would be produced in a special court in Pune.

Incidentally, Punalekar is also the national secretary of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, an association of lawyers.

It may be recalled, Dabholkar, the founder of Maharashtra Anshashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, was gunned down by two persons in Pune on 20 August, 2013.

The Maharashtra government had passed on the investigations to the CBI and probe is monitored by the Bombay High Court.

Punalekar, over the last six years, had represented accused in the murder cases involving Dr Dabholkar, Communist leader Govind Pansare. Some accused are also linked to murders of Prof MM Kalburgi and journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh.

According to initial information available, Punalekar was in touch with the accused before the incident and allegedly helped in destruction of evidence.

Over the last few years, a dozen persons have been arrested.

Sharad Kalaskar, an accused in the Dabholkar murder case, had revealed that Punalekar had asked him to destroy the pistol allegedly used in murder of the rationalists.

Demand for Punalekar’s arrest was being raised after the SIT chargesheet named him earlier this year.

Kalaskar, who was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) over the Nallasopara arms and explosives haul case last year, was named by CBI as the shooter, along with Sachin Andure, in the Dabholkar case.

It may be recalled, the CBI had, in 2016, filed a chargesheet against ENT specialist Dr Virendra Tawde in the Dabholkar murder case. One of the accused, Amol Kale, had provided pistol and bike to the Aurangabad based accused Sachin Andure.

More details are awaited.

Sanatan Sanstha condemns arrest

The Right-wing Sanatan Sanstha has condemned the arrets and backed the two accused. "The arrest of Punalekar and Bhave comes at a time when pro-Hindutva government is in power smacks of a conspiracy behind such an action," Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Chetan Rajhans said.

According to him, the CBI has bowed before the demand of the progressives. "It is very serious to arrest Punalekar who proved the falsehood of saffron terrorism behind Malgaon explosion case, filed several public interest litigations. We feel that Punalekar who performs seva of society, the nation and dharma without any expectations is innocent," he said.