The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 7 told the Bombay High Court that the trial in the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar could be concluded in two months if expedited, as there were only eight witnesses remaining.
A Division Bench of Justices A.S. Gadkari and P.D. Naik was hearing an appeal filed by the prime accused in the case of Dr. Virendrasinh Tawade, challenging the rejection of his bail by the Pune Sessions court.
CBI’s counsel Sandesh Patil informed the court that out of 32 witnesses, only eight were left for examining.
The court asked if there were any hostile witnesses, to which Mr. Patil said there were none.
The court then asked the advocate appearing for Mr. Tawade if they would accept CBI’s statement that the trial would be completed in two months.
Mr. Tawade’s advocate Virendra Icchalkaranjikar said the statement was unacceptable to him as his client was behind bars for the last seven years, and the CBI kept adding witnesses to be examined.
He said he wanted to show the court why Mr. Tawade deserved to be released on bail and his only apprehension was, it may be deemed as a mini trial. The court posted the matter to be heard for two weeks.
On August 20, 2013, the 67-year-old founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and anti-superstition crusader Dabholkar was shot dead while he was out on a morning walk in Pune. He was to address a press conference later in the day to advocate for an eco-friendly Ganesh festival.
On September 15, 2021, the special court in Pune framed charges against the alleged members of the Hindu extremist group in India, Sanathan Sanstha namely, ear and nose surgeon Dr. Tawade, alleged assailants Sachin Andhure and Sharad Kalaskar, Mumbai-based criminal lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar and his aide Vikram Bhure.
While Mr. Punalekar and Mr. Bhave are out on bail, Dr. Tawade, Mr. Kalaskar and Mr. Andhure are lodged at the Yerwada Central Jail.
