Key Suspect Arrested in Maharashtra Rationalist Dabholkar’s Murder

Based on a tip-off from the ATS, the CBI has arrested one of the gunmen who allegedly killed Dabholkar in 2013.

Rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar was murdered on 20 August 2013 in Pune.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Two days before the fifth death anniversary of Maharashtra rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, a key suspect in his murder was held by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Pune on Saturday, 18 August.

The CBI arrested one of the two gunmen who allegedly killed Dabholkar in 2013, official sources told IANS.

“Sachin Prakashrao Andure of Aurangabad is one of the two persons who shot at (Dr) Dabholkar. Further investigations are underway,” a CBI official said.

Andure was produced before a court in Pune on Sunday and was sent to police custody till 26 August.

While seeking his custody for 14 days, CBI counsel (public prosecutor) Vijaykumar Dhakane said the investigation revealed that Andure had received "shooting training" at various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka before executing Dabholkar's killing, reported PTI.

“The CBI needs to investigate where he underwent the shooting training and also people who provided the required infrastructure to both the shooters,” Dhakane said.

According to IANS, the CBI was assisted in the case by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, who received a tip-off. The ATS had previously arrested three persons in a different case of explosives seizure.

During custodial interrogation, one of these three made the sensational revelation that he and another person (Andure) were directly involved in the Dabholkar killing which hit national headlines.

The Thane ATS alerted the CBI of the development, which in turn summoned Andure and confirmed the information given by his accomplice. The CBI arrested Andure late evening in Pune.

Sachin Andure's brother Pravin Andure, who was present in the court during the hearing, told reporters later that his sibling was innocent and "falsely implicated" in the case, according to PTI.

Dabholkar was out on his morning walk on 20 August 2013, when he was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne men, near his Pune home. The case was initially investigated by the Deccan police, but following a furore, it was transferred to the CBI in May 2014, with the agency increasing the reward money on the killers from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

Shortly after Dabholkar's murder, the state enacted the country's first legislation against superstition and black magic. The activist was posthumously conferred the Padma Shri in 2014. Since then, the All Indian Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) and others observe his death anniversary (August 20) as "National Scientific Temper Day" to create awareness against superstition.

Dabholkar’s killing and communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare’s killing in a similar manner in February 2015 had sent shock waves throughout the state.

Dabholkar’s Son Reacts to the Arrest

Hamid Dabholkar, son of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.(Photo Courtesy: ANI)

According to the slain rationalist’s son, Hamid Dabholkar, this is a step in the right direction. He added that the CBI should not stop here but go on to arrest the mastermind of the plan.

He also said, however, that, had this been done earlier, murders of (Govind) Pansare, (MM) Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh could have been averted.

(With inputs from IANS, ANI and PTI.)