Narendra Dabholkar murder: Bombay High Court issues notice on appeal against acquittal of three accused

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a plea by the family of rationalist late Narendra Dabholkar challenging the acquittal of three persons accused of his murder. [Mukta Narendra Dabholkar v Central Bureau of Investigation and Ors.].A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and PK Chavan issued notice on the plea by Dabholkar's daughter Mukta challenging the May 2024 judgment convicting two accused persons and acquitting three..The Court also admitted the appeal filed by the two persons who were convicted. .On May 10, 2024, a Pune court had convicted accused Sachin Andure, Sharad Kalaskar and sentenced them to life imprisonment along with penalties of ₹5 lakh. Three others, Dr Virendrasinh Tawade, Vikram Bhave and Sanjeev Punalekar, were acquitted. Sessions judge PP Jadhav pronounced the judgment after a trial that lasted nearly three years. The trial 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..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..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 terror in the minds of the people at large so that no one should undertake the work as of 'Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti'.