Maha can ban Sanatan Sanstha, but its legality can be challenged: Experts
LEGAL BIND Failure to prove Sanstha is umbrella body for groups linked to crimes may be a hurdle MUMBAI:
Can Sanatan Sanstha be banned, is the question that has arisen as there have been voices seeking a government ban on the Hindu right-wing organisation.
The group can be banned by the government based on the administrative findings of the investigating agencies, but the legality of the ban can be challenged and its effectiveness will remain a question, said legal experts.
Sanatan Sanstha, which proclaims itself to be an organisation with a mission to protect the country and the Hindu religion, made headlines when its alleged members were arrested for planting a bomb at a theatre in Panvel in 2008 during the screening of Bollywood film ‘Jodhaa Akbar’.
Since then, alleged members of the group have been named in or linked to various incidents
including the killings of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Kannada scholar MM Kalburgi, Communist leader Govind Pansare and journalist Gauri Lankesh. But investigations in these cases are still in progress, and there is no concrete evidence yet to prove the culpability of Sanatan Sanstha as an organisation in these crimes.
“Based on these findings, the government can move to ban Sanatan Sanstha. But the ban can be challenged when one learns In 2008, alleged members of Sanatan Sanstha were arrested for planting a bomb at a theatre in Panvel in 2008 where the film ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ was being screened
In the same year, on May 31, a live bomb was hurled at Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, and a blast was engineered in the parking lot of Ram Ganesh Gadkari Auditorium in Thane, where the play 'Aamhi Pachpute' was being staged
In 2009, alleged members of the organisation were accused of carrying a bomb on a scooter, which went off prematurely at Madgaon in Goa
Rationalist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne men on August 20, 2013 when he was out for his morning walk in Pune Communist leader Govind Pansare was shot by two
that there is no umbrella organisation known as Sanatan Sanstha to which all these allegations can be attributed,” said a senior advocate representing the state, requesting anonymity.
A senior IPS officer said since being registered as a trust in 1991, Sanatan Sanstha has flourished over a period of 27 years and its members have carried out due motorcycle-borne men on February 16, 2015 while he was on a morning walk along with his wife in Kolhapur. He died on February 20
Left ideologue and former
diligence, in terms of registering the organisation under different entities, to ensure there are no direct links to its key leaders.
“There are more than 80 organisations registered under the name of different individuals in Maharashtra alone bearing different registration names, numbers and offices. None of these bodies can be directly linked to vice-chancellor of Hampi University, professor MM Kalburgi, was shot dead on August 30, 2015 by an unidentified gunman at the doorstep of his home in Karnataka’s Dharwad city
any of the crimes,” the officer said, requesting anonymity.
Chetan Rajhans, spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha, said on Monday, “None of the five persons arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) owe allegiance to Sanatan Sanstha.”
Sanjeev G Punalekar, advocate of Sanatan Sanstha, said, Journalist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead on September 5, 2017 by three unidentified gunmen at her house in Bengaluru Sanstha has allegedly been linked to all four murders.
“We hold our annual convention in Goa, where members from more than 140 Hindu groups participate. We do not keep a check on the activity of members from other organisations. Around 10 lakh people follow the Sanatan dharma, but are not active members of Sanatan Sanstha. If any of them carry out any crime, we cannot be held responsible.”