Narendra Dabholkar murder: CBI chargesheet names conspirator, killers

Pune: In a major development in the murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar three years ago, the CBI on Wednesday named a right-wing medico as the alleged prime conspirator.

The CBI has claimed that the chief conspirator as ENT specialist Virendra Tawde - of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and also linked with the Sanatan Sanstha. He was arrested on June 10 and is now in judicial custody.

It has also identified Vinay Pawar and Sarang Akolkar - both absconders - as Dabholkar's killers in a 40-page chargesheet filed before a Pune court on Wednesday.

"The motive for the murder of Dabholkar was allegedly the long enmity/hatred that existed between the two private organizations headed by Dabholkar in Satara and Tawde in Kolhapur," the CBI said.

Dabholkar, a renowned rationalist and founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was shot dead on August 20, 2013 while on a morning walk in Pune.