CBI questions Tawade’s wife, searches house

Officers found 17 documents that interest them, Tawade’s passport and a few DVDs

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday questioned Dr Virendra Tawade’s wife Nidhi in connection with the 2013 murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.

Mumbai, India, June 11, 2016: Dr. Virendra Tawade (in white shirt with beard) who was arrested yesterday by CBI in connection with Narendra Dabholkar murder case, being produced in local court in Pune, India on 11 June 2016. HT Photo

The CBI arrested Virendra Tawade on June 11. Nidhi and her mother visited the CBI office at Navi Mumbai around 11.30am and her preliminary statement was recorded, said a CBI source.

Nidhi was a member of Sanatan Sanstha but was never an active one. According to officials, Nidhi and her daughter had not been living with Virendra for the past two years as their relationship had soured.

Nidhi had recently visited London and was not in the town when the CBI arrested Tawade on June 11. She returned to India on Monday and visited the CBI office on Tuesday morning, said a source adding, “She was in shock after she learnt about Virendra’s arrest. But we told her about the evidence collected against Tawade and his role in the murder.”

“A CBI team then visited Nidhi’s house in Panvel and searched the residence, which was underway till late evening,” added a CBI officer. The officers found 17 documents that interest them, Tawade’s passport and a few DVDs.

“We will call her again in a few days,” added the officer.