‘Slow progress’ in Dabholkar, Pansare murder case irks HC

“If we hear once again that you (IPS officer) are speaking to media regarding this case, you will be thrown out of your job. You cannot interefere with the course of justice.”

Coming down heavily on the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and the Special Investigations Team (SIT) for the ‘slow’ progress in the probe of Dabholkar-Pansare murder cases, the Bombay High Court, on Wednesday, gave the agencies a last chance to obtain the ‘Ballistic’ reports from Scotland Yard within six weeks.

The direction came from a division bench headed by Justice Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari, after both the agecncies submitted their progress reports in sealed envelopes.

It must be noted that the CBI is investigating the murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar while SIT (comprising of State police and CID) is looking after the probe in comrade Govind Pansare’s murder case.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for CBI, informed the bench that the central agency is waiting for the final nod from the Union Ministry of External Affairs, and ones it is permitted, an officer would fly to obtain the ‘Ballistic’ reports from the Scotland Yard. After perusing the reports, the bench asked CBI on its further plan, especially about steps, the agency proposes to take to arrest the absconding accused, whom they named in the previous reports.

Meanwhile, Mankunwar Deshmukh, the counsel appearing for SIT, submitted the progress report in Pansare murder case.

While reading the report, the bench said, “There are ‘over-enthusiastic’ officers in the SIT who cannot resist ‘publicity’. Reprimanding the SIT, the bench said, “Are you aware about the repercussions of your media briefings? We will ‘dismantle’ your entire team unless you stop showing this enthusiasm.”

Referring to CBI’s evidence, the bench said, “The agency (CBI) is sharing confidential and crucial information with you in the hope that you will not reveal the same to anyone but you are divulging it to the media. The absconders are getting every update or development through your briefing and making them ‘wiser’ than you.”

“The state police must accept and say that they are ‘inefficient’ and that is the reason that CBI came into picture (for the probe),” the bench said while pulling up the SIT.

Slaming the IPS officer (who is also the Investigating Officer in Pansare’s case), the bench said, “If we hear once again that you (IPS officer) are speaking to media regarding this case, you will be thrown out of your job. You cannot interefere with the course of justice.”

The bench also suggested the SIT to come up with ‘strong’ evidence against all the people, who are been named in the chargesheets and other reports. It also expressed anguish on the ‘poor’ coordination between both the agencies.