India’s image tainted with reports of intellectuals’ murder, states HC
Speaking of the slow progress in investigations in the killings of Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Kannada writer Kalburgi, advocate Abhay Nevgi informed the division bench of Bombay High Court (HC) that the country’s image had been tarnished.
“The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and New York Times have published the killings and slow progress in investigations, which has tarnished the image of our country,” said Nevgi. Maharashtra State CID is probing Govind Pansare and Central Bureau of Investigations is probing Dabholkar case.
The division bench of justices S C Dharmadhikari and Bharti Dangre are hearing the Public Interest Litigations (PILs) of DabholkarPansare killings. Justice Dharmadhikari observed that the accused had many escape routes and were ahead of the investigating agencies.
“The financial transactions have to be blocked. Use of advanced technology to corner the accused who are active on virtual world, especially to track their cellphone is pertinent,” said Dharmadhikari.
The bench observed that the State CID had made a lot of progress and five teams have been made in Pansare case. The Maharashtra CID on Thursday told the HC that it had identified some more accused in Pansare’s killing, but was unable to arrest any of them so far.
However, the court observed, the investigating agencies had to outsmart the accused, who are still out of their clutches. “They are still communicating and you need technology to track their locations and calls virtually,” said the judge.
Nevgi informed the court that an Indian had developed cellphone tower technology software to penetrate these networks. “This is being used by Scotland Yard to detect cyber crimes but unfortunately no investigative agency in India is using it,” said Nevgi.
The court assured the advocate there I’ll be no tenders and funds will be made available immediately, he however has to file an will affidavit confirming the name of agency or person who has the requisite software.
The court rejected the demand made by petitioners’ advocate to include NIA in the investigations. “We have no concedeeded to the request to include NIA in these investigations, as we have seen in the report they have been consulted and given important information. The agencies can co-ordinate and take help as and when needed,” said Dharmadhikari.
The matter has been placed for March 1.
The Maharashtra CID on Thursday told the HC that it had identified some more accused in Pansare’s killing, but was unable to arrest any of them so far. However, the court observed, the investigating agencies had to outsmart the accused, who are still out of their clutches.