Crucial connection between Lankesh, Dabholkar murders: CBI informs court

In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it has established links between the murders of Punebased rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and Bengaluru-based journalist Gauri Lankesh.

The CBI said it had established the crucial connection before the Shivajinagar magistrate’s court in Pune to extend the police custody of one of the prime suspects, Sachin Andhure.

“Some of the accused in the Gauri Lankesh case are connected with Sachin Andhure and Narendra Dabholkar’s murder,” the CBI remand application said. Accordingly, the custody of Andhure , arrested from Aurangabad last week, has been extended till August 30.

Medico and rationalist Dabholkar (67), who fought against superstitious beliefs through his Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was gunned down near his residence on the morning of June 20, 2013.

Two unidentified motorbikeborne assailants fired several rounds at him near the Omkareshwar temple in Pune.

Almost four years later, Gauri Lankesh (55), journalist and activist, was shot dead outside her residence in Bengalaru on September 5, 2017.

She served as the editor of ‘Lankesh Patrike’ and also ran another weekly, ‘Gauri Lankesh Patrike.’

In both these cases, the long suspected alleged role of certain right-wing activists has now emerged. However, the CBI remand plea does not name any organisation(s) which could be involved in these cases.

PUNE: THE CUSTODY OF ONE OF THE PRIME ACCUSED, SACHIN ANDHURE , ARRESTED FROM AURANGABAD LAST WEEK, HAS BEEN EXTENDED TILL AUG 30