Dabholkar killers get life sentence

3 alleged conspirators acquitted | Court says Police & CBI failed to track down mastermind behind murder

- CHARUL SHAH JOSHI

The Pune sessions court convicted two accused persons and acquitted three others on Friday, for the murder of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar (69) on August 22, 2013.

The court sentenced two persons Sachin Andure, 33, and Sharad Kalaskar, 28, - to life imprisonment. In addition a penalty of Rs 5 lakh each was imposed on the duo.

However, the court acquitted alleged conspirators Dr Virendra Tawde, advocate Sanjiv Punalekar and Vikram Bhave, for want of evidence. The court observed that the Pune police and the CBI had failed to track down the mastermind behind the murder. Investigators had also failed to find the pistol that had been used to fire at Dr Dabholkar.

Ten years ago, while Dr Dabholkar was taking his usual morning walk at Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune at 7.30am, two motorcycle-borne men had gunned him down.

The prosecution had alleged that Tawde was a member of the Sanatan Sanstha which was upset with Dabholkar for his remarks on certain Hindu religious practices and, thus, had allegedly conspired to kill him. The court however, said that there was not enough evidence to prove Tawde's role in the crime and the agency had failed to track the mastermind of the case. 

On the failure of the police to unearth the faces behind the murder of Dabholkar, Additional Sessions Judge Prabhakar P Jadhav observed,