Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 7th September 2021: A special court today passed an order about the framing of charges against five accused, who are members of right-wing radical organisation Sanatan Sanstha, in the Dr Narendra Dabholkar murder case. Now the trial will begin in the case.
Dr Dabholkar (67), the founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was shot dead by two assailants while he was on a morning walk on the bridge between Omkareshwar Temple and Balgandharva auditorium in Pune, on the morning of August 20 in 2013.
Initially, the case was investigated by Pune city police. Later, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case in 2014 and has till now charge-sheeted five accused. The special court of Additional Sessions Judge SR Navandar is currently holding the proceedings of the case.
Charges will be framed against four accused – Dr Virendra Tawade, Sachin Andure Sharad Kalaskar and Vikram Bhave – under section 302 (murder), 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with section 16 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and section 3(25), 27(1), 27(3) of Arms Act while charges framing against one accused Adv Sanjeev Punalekar to be done under section 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC.
However, the framing of the charges has been deferred till 15 September as one of the accused Dr Virendra Tawade insisted to meet his lawyer and relatives in person saying due to COVID restrictions he was not allowed to meet them after which the court decided to frame the charges on 15 September. The court will ask them whether they plead guilty or not guilty.
Adv Sanjeev Punalkear and Vikram Bhave are out on bail, while Dr Virendra Tawade, Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalsalkar are in judicial custody.
According to the CBI, ENT surgeon Dr Virendra Tawade is the mastermind behind the killing of Dr Dabholkar. Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar had shot him.
