Former CM Prithviraj Chavan: “No Reason to Express Satisfaction With Dabholkar Case Judgement”

Pune, 12th May 2024: Eleven years after the shooting of Dr Narendra Dabholkar, the working president of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), a verdict has finally been reached. The court sentenced accused Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalskar to life imprisonment along with a fine of five lakh rupees each.

Dr Dabholkar was murdered on 20th August 2013, at approximately 7:30 AM on the Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde Bridge near Omkareshwar Temple. A case was registered at the Deccan Gymkhana Police Station in connection with this incident. Later the case was transferred to the CBI.

Dr Virendrasingh Tawde, suspected of plotting the crime, was acquitted due to the government’s failure to prove the allegations with sufficient evidence. Additionally, Adv. Sanjeev Punalekar and Vikram Bhave were also acquitted due to lack of evidence. Special Judge PP Jadhav issued this order, prompting a reaction from former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, on all these matters.

Former CM Chavan expressed his dissatisfaction with the outcome of the Dabholkar murder case, stating, “I am not satisfied. Two individuals admitted to shooting Dabholkar and were punished. Yet, later, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi were also killed. This suggests that the investigation was not conducted properly. There’s no reason to feel satisfied with this inquiry.”

He further commented, “The three individuals were acquitted due to lack of evidence provided by the police. It appears to be a conspiracy, and it remains unclear who was involved. During my tenure as Chief Minister, I urged the Home Ministry to impose a nationwide ban on the Sanatan Sanstha. This request was made two years before Dabholkar’s assassination.”

Chavan remarked, “The involvement of the Sanatan Sanstha remains unclear. Furthermore, the demand to ban the organization is still pending with the Centre. Sanatan Sanstha is deemed a terrorist organization. In 2011, we submitted 1 thousand pages of information to the Centre. Moreover, I’ve previously stated, and I reiterate, that Dabholkar fell victim to the same ideologies that claimed Gandhi’s life. There is no reason to express satisfaction regarding this inquiry.”