Three years and 23 hearings later, the probe into the murder of CPI leader and trade unionist Govind Pansare has made little progress.
Pansare, 82, was shot dead on February 16, 2015 in Kolhapur by motorbike-borne assailants. Main accused Sameer Gaikwad was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), and later was granted bail on June 17, 2017. The Bombay High Court has repeatedly said that no concrete evidence has come out from the investigation and that modern technology must be used to nab the accused.
Upper police superintendent Tirupati Kakade, who is heading the SIT, said, “I was transferred 23 days ago, I submitted a report to the Bombay High Court on February 15.” Mr. Kakade refused to comment on whether any development has taken place in the case.
Megha Pansare, daughter-in-law of Mr. Pansare, said, “The court is monitoring the probe but as a family member I feel there have been no results. They have not found the murder weapon, not even the vehicle. Now, two persons who are the actual killers [Vinay Pawar and Sarang Akolkar] and whose names are also mentioned in the supplementary charge sheet are absconding. They have not yet been held and this will affect the trial.”
Advocate Abhay Nevgi, who is appearing for the Pansare family, said, “There were 23 hearings and in 19 of them the court expressed dissatisfaction. The shooters are still absconding. The court asked the agency to complete the investigation and if the agency does not find any headway in the case then the court will be counselling some high level officials. There is still no progress. Mr. Gaikwad and Dr. Virendra Tawde both were arrested, but later got bail.”
He said a lookout notice has been issued for the accused, but there is no co-ordination between agencies.
