Gauri, Pansare kin to oppose CBI probe

SC had suggested that single agency should probe all four murders

Updated - December 27, 2018 12:12 am IST - Bengaluru

Combo photo shows (left to right) Narendra Dabholkar, M.M. Kalburgi, Gauri Lankesh and Govind Pansare.

Combo photo shows (left to right) Narendra Dabholkar, M.M. Kalburgi, Gauri Lankesh and Govind Pansare.

The families of Gauri Lankesh and Govind Pansare, activists killed in Karnataka and Maharashtra, allegedly by right wing groups, are set to oppose any move to hand over probe into their deaths to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

This comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court recently suggesting that a single agency, CBI, should probe all the four murders — of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, M.M. Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh — while hearing a petition filed by Kalburgi’s family members seeking a speedy probe. The case is posted for January first week after the CBI sought time to respond.

Backs SIT probe

Kavita Lankesh, sister of slain journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh told The Hindu that she would implead before the Supreme Court during the next hearing, opposing any move to transfer the case to CBI. “It is the SIT, Karnataka, which has unravelled the conspiracy behind all the four murders. We want the SIT to continue with the probe and not the CBI,” she said. Megha Pansare, daughter-in-law of slain communist leader Govind Pansare, whose murder is presently being probed by the SIT, Maharashtra, said the family was happy with the progress in the probe and was opposed to it being handed over to the CBI. “We are consulting our advocate on the next course of action. But we will oppose any such move,” she said.

Criminal syndicate

The four cases are being probed by four different agencies and the Karnataka SIT’s probe into the murder of Gauri Lankesh unravelled the larger conspiracy and the criminal syndicate behind all the four murders, leading to a slew of arrests in connection with the previous three murders as well. It is now alleged that a single criminal syndicate, influenced by the teachings of Sanatan Sanstha, carried out all the four murders, prompting the apex court to suggest a common probe.

The CBI’s probe into the murder of Narendra Dabholkar, the only case of the four the agency is handling, has come under criticism, for several flip-flops it has made in the case. The Bombay High Court Bench that is monitoring the probe into the murders of Dabholkar and Govind Pansare has also criticised the CBI several times. “We are also concerned about political interference, given how Malegaon bomb blast and Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter cases have ended up. Given the recent CBI fiasco, the agency does not instil confidence,” said a family member of one of the victims, who did not wish to be named.

‘We want justice’

Meanwhile, Kalburgi’s son Sreevijaya said his family did not have a stand on the investigative agency. “It has been over three years since my father was brutally killed and the probe has been very slow. Our only demand is justice. We have approached the Supreme Court as a last resort, but have not sought a CBI probe. But if the Supreme Court and the State government in their wisdom hand over the probe to the CBI, we will stand by them,” he said.

Victim

Dr. Narendra Dabholkar

Govind Pansare

M.M. Kalburgi

Gauri Lankesh

Murder:

Pune, August 20, 2013

Kolhapur, February 16, 2015

Dharwad, August 30, 2015

Bengaluru, September 5, 2017

Investigating Agency:

CBI

SIT, Maharashtra

CID, Karnataka

SIT, Karnataka

Status of the case:

Bombay High Court monitoring the probe.

CBI filed a chargesheet in September 2016. Recent arrests in the case contradicts claims in this chargesheet. Three Gauri Lankesh case accused arrested in the case, granted bail as CBI fails to file charge sheet.

Bombay High Court monitoring the probe.

SIT filed a chargesheet in November 2016. SIT recently arrested key accused in Gauri Lankesh case in connection with the case.

CID yet to file chargesheet in the case.

CID recently arrested two key accused in Gauri Lankesh case for their alleged role in Kalburgi's murder. No further developments yet.

SIT has till date filed two charge sheets against a total of 18 accused. Alleged an unnamed criminal syndicate motivated by Sanatan Sanstha teachings killed her. Accused in the case revealed to have been involved in previous 3 murders as well. Other agencies make arrests in these cases.

 

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.