Dabholkar case: Court refuses CBI further custody of two accused

CBI has named Kalaskar as alleged “shooter” in the case while Digwekar and Bangera, the two suspects earlier arrested in journalist Gauri Lankesh murder, have been accused as “co-conspirator” in the Dabholkar case.

Pune: Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) MSA Sayed reprimanded the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials conducting investigations into the arrests of assailants of Narendra Dabholkar on Monday for no progress in the investigations related to accused Rajesh Bangera, Amit Digwekar and Sharad Kalaskar.

Rationalist Narendra Dabholkar (65) was shot dead by two youths on a motorcycle on the Omkareshwar bridge near Pune’s Shanivar Peth area while he was on a morning walk in 2013. (HT FILE PHOTO)

The court also rejected CBI custody of Digwekar and Bangera while Kalaskar’s CBI custody was extended up to September 15. The CBI produced Bangera, Digwekar and Kalaskar in the court amid tight security following the expiry of their custody. The CBI has named Kalaskar as alleged “shooter” in the case while Digwekar and Bangera, the two suspects earlier arrested in journalist Gauri Lankesh murder, have been accused as co-conspirator” in the Dabholkar case.

CBI counsel Advocate Vijaykumar Dhakane submitted the case diary of the investigation before the court and pleaded that custodial interrogation of Amol Kale, another suspect in the Dabholkar case and Kalaskar at the same and sought extension in police remand for the accused.

Defence counsel Dharmaraj Chandel in his submission said that Bangera was assaulted in front of the investigative officers.