Dabholkar case: Main shooter got training in Maha, K'taka
The alleged main shooter arrested in the Narendra Dabholkar killing case received "shooting training" at various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the CBI told the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) AS Mujumdar in Pune on Sunday. Key accused Sachin Prakasrao Andure, who was arrested on Saturday evening by CBI, was remanded on Sunday in the CBI custody till August 26. Here's more.
Andure, one of two assailants who shot at Dabholkar: CBI
"The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) needs to investigate where Andure underwent the shooting training and also people who provided the required infrastructure to both the shooters," CBI Counsel (Public Prosecutor) Vijaykumar Dhakane said. The probe agency told the court that Andure is one of the two assailants who shot at Dabholkar at Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune on August 20, 2013.
Entire conspiracy was hatched by Dr. Virendra Tawde: CBI Counsel
"The entire conspiracy was hatched by Dr. Virendra Tawde along with this accused and this (conspiracy) needs to be unearthed for which his custodial interrogation is needed," the CBI Counsel told the court. The CBI had arrested Hindu Janajagruti Samiti member Tawde in Jun'16 from his house in Panvel and in the charge sheet, he was mentioned as the main conspirator.
Defense Counsel raised questions over the arrest of Andure
Defense Counsel Prakash Salsingikar raised questions over the arrest of Andure and said that after arresting Tawde, the CBI in its charge sheet mentioned the names of Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as Dabholkar's killers. He said the CBI claimed that sketches prepared on the basis of descriptions given by seven to eight witnesses resemble with the photos of Akolkar and Pawar.
Sketches have no resemblance with Andure's facial characteristics: Defense Counsel
"Now suddenly, the CBI has come out with this new theory that it was Andure who shot at Dabholkar. The sketches have no resemblance with Andure's facial characteristics," Defense Counsel said. In the charge sheet also, there was no mention of Andure, Salsingikar said. He said the court should also direct the prosecution to submit a copy of charge sheet filed against Tawde.
Akolkar, Pawar have 50-60% resemblance to killers' facial characteristics: CBI-Counsel
Dhakane, however, said the CBI never named Akolkar and Pawar as the main killers in the case. "The resemblance is only 50 to 60% and nowhere in the charge sheet the CBI mentioned them as the accused," he said. The CBI also said that it has to seize the weapon and the vehicle used in the commission of the crime.
JMFC Mujumdar remanded Andure in CBI custody
After hearing the arguments, JMFC Mujumdar remanded Andure in CBI custody till August 26. Andure was believed to be one of the shooters who fired at Dabholkar while he was on a morning walk on Pune's Omkareshwar Bridge, the CBI spokesperson said yesterday.
CBI filed a charge sheet against Tawde under various sections
In June 2016, the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Dr. Virendra Tawde under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 302 (murder) of the IPC, among other charges. Tawde was allegedly the mastermind of the killing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had said. The Bombay High Court had, in May 2014, handed over the Dabholkar murder case to the CBI.
