Dabholkar case: CBI, ATS conduct search, seize gun
Anti- Terrorism Squad ( ATS) officials said that the arrested accused in the murder case of Narendra Dabholkar belong to a group that was entrusted with the murder of the rationalist in Pune. The investigators said that there are several groups or ‘ silos’ that were not in the loop about the activities of other groups. The ATS has come across code words that are now being matched with the records of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s ( CBI) probe in the case and the chargesheet filed against Dr Virendra Tawade, the first person arrested in the Dabholkar case. The others who have been arrested in the case are shooters Sharad Kalaskar and Sachin Andhure, and Vaibhav Raut, a gau rakshak and alleged seeker of the Sanatan Sanstha.
Meanwhile, the CBI and ATS conducted fresh raids at Aurangabad early on Tuesday and seized a firearm and three rounds from there that are supposed to have been used in one of the killings. They also found documents that are now being looked into detail.
“There are several facts that need to be crosschecked with the earlier investigation conducted by the Central agency. This include the code words used by the accused and details pertaining to the larger conspiracy,” said a senior ATS officer.
The officials are conducting a probe into the money trail of some of Kalaskar’s bank accounts. The officials also stated that they would seek Andhure’s custody from the CBI, which had arrested and is currently questioning him. The ATS also said that, if required, it might summon chiefs of the right- wing organisations for questioning whose names have popped up in the recent past.
The fresh raid was carried out after the CBI, which had sought the help of the ATS, raided the Manjeet Pride Residency in Aurangabad’s Deolai Chowk area around 3 am in two teams.