Dabholkar murder: HC reserves order on PIL seeking CBI probe

Mumbai, May 8: The Bombay High Court today reserved its order on a PIL seeking CBI probe into the murder of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar last year.

The order was reserved by a bench headed by Justice P V Hardas after CBI lawyer contended that there was no need to transfer the probe to the investigating agency as no allegations had been levelled against the State or police for shoddy investigations.

CBI counsel Rebecca Gonsalves cited a Supreme Court judgement which said that if no allegations were levelled against the authorities then there was no need to transfer investigations in a criminal case. The petitioner Ketan Tirodkar pleaded that even if no allegations were made against authorities, the probe in a criminal case could be transferred to CBI if it has national or international ramifications.

In this case, he said, the probe was spread over to two other states, Madhya Pradesh and Goa, besides Maharashtra. Police also had information that accused had fled to Dubai and were hiding there, he claimed.

Tirodkar, a former journalist, also cited judgement in the case of NCP leader Padamsinh Patil who is accused in a murder case, saying the probe was transferred to CBI by the court which did not comment about the role of police. Dabholkar was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pune on August 20, 2013.

On last occasion, CBI had told the court that it was considering taking over the probe in this case and sought time to file a reply. However, today, CBI counsel said there was no need to transfer the probe to the agency as there were no allegations against authorities concerned.

PTI