PUNE: The CBI on Thursday submitted to the special UAPA court here 13 documents to be considered as evidence in the August 20, 2013, murder case of veteran rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.
The CBI’s special public prosecutor, Rajendra Suryavanshi, has given notice to the five accused to admit or deny the documents under Section 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
Panvel-based ENT specialist and Sanatan Sanstha activist Virendrasinh Tawde, described by the CBI as a key conspirator, Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar, the two men accused of shooting Dabholkar dead on the Vitthal Ramji Shinde bridge near Balgandharva Rang Mandir in Pune, and Vikram Bhave, who is accused of assisting the duo in a recce of the crime spot, the escape route and related aspects are among the five men charged in the case.
The special judge, S R Navander, has given time till October 6 to defence lawyers representing the accused to file their written say in relation to the CBI’s documents. The prosecution will submit the list of witnesses to be examined during the trial and the case diary of the CBI superintendent of police S R Singh who is the investigation officer in the murder case on the same day.
The court had earlier rejected the plea filed by Tawde seeking temporary bail of three days for performing the post-death rituals on the first death anniversary of his father. Tawde through his lawyer had filed a plea stating that he should be allowed to visit his residence for performing the rituals under police protection on October 4 and 5 between 12pm and 5.30pm.
Suryavanshi said, “The CBI opposed Tawde’s plea on the grounds that the court had earlier thrice rejected his bail pleas. Tawde will go absconding and may tamper with the prosecution witnesses/evidence if he was released on temporary bail.”
Tawde’s defence lawyer, Prakash Salsingikar, said, “The court has granted permission to Tawde to perform rituals via video conferencing mode for three hours on October 5. The bail pleas filed by Tawde and Andure are pending for hearing before the Bombay high court.”
Three of the five accused, Tawde, Andure and second alleged shooter Sharad Kalaskar, were produced before the court via video conferencing mode from Yerawada and Arthur Road jails. Bhave was present in person before the court while Mumbai lawyer Sanjiv Punalekar had sought exemption from personal appearance.
Lawyer Omkar Nevagi representing Dabholkar’s family was present before the court.
