Tejas Navale

Pune: After over a decade of twists and turns, the Pune Sessions Court has finally delivered its verdict in the high-profile murder case of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, the founder president of Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS). The verdict, which comes after 11 years of relentless investigation and legal proceedings, has brought both closure and controversy.

In a courtroom filled with anticipation, the fate of five accused individuals hung in the balance. Among them were Virendra Tawde, Sachin Andure, Sharad Kalaskar, lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar, and his assistant Vikram Bhave. After careful deliberation, the court acquitted three of the accused while finding two guilty in the murder case.

The two individuals convicted, Sharad Kalaskar and Sachin Andure, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the murder. The court determined that Kalaskar and Andure were responsible for the murder of Dr. Dabholkar, who was fatally shot on August 20, 2013, near the Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde Bridge in Pune. The assassination sent shockwaves across Maharashtra and the entire nation, leaving the progressive movement reeling from the loss of one of its most vocal proponents.

However, amidst the convictions, three accused individuals—Virendra Tawde, lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar, and his assistant Vikram Bhave—have been acquitted of all charges. Tawde, initially accused of conspiracy, was acquitted due to a lack of substantial evidence presented by the government party. Likewise, Punalekar and Bhave were acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove their involvement in the crime.

The case of Dr. Dabholkar's murder was initially investigated by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in conjunction with the Pune City Police. After that, the case eventually landed in the hands of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Throughout the investigation, the authorities faced numerous hurdles, including the elusive nature of the perpetrators and the intricate web of conspiracies surrounding the murder.

Finally, after eleven years, the session court declared its judgement on the case. While three accused have been acquitted by the session court, it needs to see what the state government's next steps are in this case.