CBI quizzes Hindu Janajagruti Samiti member in Dabholkar murder case

New Delhi: CBI today questioned Hindu Janajagruti Samiti member Virendrasing Tawde whose residence in Panvel near Mumbai was searched by the agency in connection with the murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.

The agency had recovered some material during its earlier searches in connection with the murder case which brought the needle of suspicion on Tawde, believed to be an ENT surgeon and an alleged follower of 'Sanatan Sanstha' Sarang Akolkar, against whom Red Corner Notice was issued by Interpol in July 2012 in connection with the 2009 Goa blast case on NIA request, CBI sources said.

The residences of Tawde and Akolkar were searched by the agency yesterday which claimed to have recovered several SIM cards, cell phones and data from computer, they said.

They said the two came under the scanner after the agency found some "cyber forensic evidence" about their alleged role in the murder case of Dabholkar.

34-year-old Akolkar is suspected to be one of the key conspirators in the murder of Dabholkar, a rationalist who fought against superstitions all his life, on August 20, 2013 in Pune.

Akolkar is believed to be linked to 'Sanatan Sanstha', a Hindu right wing organisation whose headquarters are located in Ponda, Goa.

He has been on the run ever since his name cropped up during NIA investigations in the Goa blast case.

NIA had secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice against him in 2012 but security agencies are yet to track him down.