The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested one Sachin Andure, suspected to be one of the two shooters involved in the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar five years ago.
The breakthrough follows the sustained interrogation of three people arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad last week from Mumbai and Pune. One of the trio is said to have confessed to being “directly involved” in the murder, while also naming a second accomplice, who was arrested by the CBI on Saturday.
The ATS, on August 10, arrested Vaibhav Raut and Sharad Kalaskar from Nallasopara in Mumbai, and Sudhanwa Gondhalekar from Pune, for allegedly planning disruptive activities in several parts of the State.
ATS officers said that Kalaskar, during sustained interrogation, revealed his involvement in the Dabholkar murder case.
“Kalaskar confessed to his direct participation in the murder, along with another accomplice identified as Sachin Andure, a native of Aurangabad. Further interrogation established that both Kalaskar and Andure followed Dabholkar on a motorbike and gunned him down,” an ATS officer said.
Pune: **FILE** File photo of President of Maharashtra Anti-Superstition Association Narendra Dabholkar who was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pune, Maharashtra on Tuesday morning. PTI Photo (PTI8_20_2013_000234B)
The ATS subsequently picked up Andure from his Aurangabad residence and questioned him, after which he, too, allegedly confessed to his participation and revealed details similar to those that came to light in Kalaskar’s interrogation, officers said.
“After verifying the facts, we contacted the CBI, which is investigating the murder case, and handed Andure over to them,” the officer added.
A senior CBI officer confirmed that Andure had been placed under arrest on Saturday evening in connection with Dabholkar’s murder.
