Govind Pansare murder: Samir Gaikwad sent to judicial custody

Samir Gaikwad, arrested in connection with the Communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare murder case, was on Monday remanded to judicial custody by a court

Samir Gaikwad, arrested in connection with the Communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare murder case, was on Monday remanded to judicial custody by a court in Kolhapur which rejected police’s plea for further custody.

Govind Pansare was shot by unidentified persons in Kolhapur during his morning walk .

Gaikwad, a member of controversial right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha, was arrested in Sangli on September 16 by the special investigation team of Maharashtra police.

“We asked for his custody for another two days as the police wanted to confront him with some suspects and interrogate them but the court didn’t accept our contention,” said public prosecutor Vishakha Bharte.

Earlier, seeking extension of remand two days ago, the prosecution had told the judge RD Shinde that the police had to sift through the call data record obtained from 31 SIM cards and 23 mobile handsets used by Gaikwad.

Pansare and his wife were shot by unidentified persons in Kolhapur during their morning walk on February 16 this year. While his wife survived, the CPI leader died at a Mumbai hospital four days later.