Narendra Dabholkar killing: Rationalist's family approaches Supreme Court against acquittal of three | Latest news from India

The appeal filed by Dabholkar's daughter Mukta Dabholkar also challenged the verdict acquitting two other accused convicted in the case on charges of criminal conspiracy and commission of terrorist acts under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

In the appeal filed through lawyer Abhay Nevagi, Mukta Dabholkar said her father's murder was a “well-planned murder and happened as part of a larger conspiracy”.

The petition was heard on Wednesday before a bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan, which issued notices to all the accused and the prosecution agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The court has scheduled the case for hearing on September 23.

In her appeal, Mukta Dabholkar said the court had failed to take into account the fact that those convicted in this case were members of the right-wing extremist group Sanatan Sanstha and that the three acquitted people also had links with this organisation.

“The accused hatched this conspiracy to eliminate Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, who expressed his views against the Sanatan Sanstha Establishment, the Hindu Jan Jagaran Samiti and other similar organisations,” the appeal said.

It challenged the court's verdict acquitting Virendra Singh Tawde, Sanjiv Punalekar and Vikram Bhave in the case.

In the appeal, it was contended that the other two accused – Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar – were acquitted of the charge of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code, Section 16 of the UA and the Arms Act.

Dabholkar, founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, which is dedicated to fighting superstition, was shot dead on August 20, 2013, while on a morning walk in Pune by two persons allegedly associated with the Sanatan Sanstha.

On May 10, 2024, a court in Pune sentenced Andure and Kalaskar to life imprisonment for murder. The remaining three accused were acquitted.

The UA charge was brought against only four of the accused. Punalekar was only charged with destruction of evidence.

In her appeal, Mukta Dabholkar stated that the trial court erred in holding that there was no evidence to convict the two accused of criminal conspiracy and that the UA provision was not applicable as the punishment was not valid.

“The court has not taken into account that sufficient material has been presented in the files of the investigating authorities to prove beyond doubt that all the accused were involved in planning the murder of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar,” the appeal states.

The complaint states that the investigating agency duly received the application to prosecute the accused under the UA and that there are no records to indicate that the granting of the application was unlawful.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications.