The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the killing of rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, on Wednesday, said that its investigators had found cyber forensic evidence against two persons belonging to right-wing political groups.
While one of the suspects, identified as Sarang Akolkar – believed to be a Sanatan Sanstha activist who has been absconding since his name cropped up in the 2009 Goa blast, the other accused, Virendra Singh Tawde, is the chief coordinator of Hindu Janjagriti Samiti.
The agency also conducted searches at the house of Akolkar in Pune and Tawde in Panvel near Mumbai.
Wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a red-corner notice was also issued against Akolkar by the Interpol in connection with the Goa blast, which killed two suspected members of Sanatan Sanstha after a bomb they were carrying on a scooter accidentally went off. According to the agency officials, the bomb was meant for disrupting the Narakasur effigy competition that takes place in Goa on the eve of Diwali.
In the same case, six of the accused were acquitted by the Bombay High Court due to a technical error committed by the NIA while filing of the chargesheet, which had named 12, including Akolkar.
Hindu right-wing group Sanathan Sanstha came under the scanner of investigative agencies following the murders of Dr. Dabholkar, veteran Communist leader Govind Pansare in Kolhapur district and scholar-thinker MM Kalburgi, who was killed outside his home in Dharwad, Karnataka.
Agency officials, elaborating on the nature of evidence gathered against the two, said, “We have collected several mobile phones and SIM cards from the residences of the duo. The two came under our scanner following a thorough analysis of the cyber forensic evidence.” Another official told dna that agency sleuths might be close to finally cracking the case.
Members of the Hindu Janjagriti Samiti and Sanathan Sansatha might also be facing questioning by investigators who are now trailing Sarankar. According to a CBI official, Dr Tawde was present at his residence when the searches took place and is likely to be questioned in the coming days.
“Certain documents and mobile numbers, e-mails and so on, recovered during searches, are being scrutinised,” said a CBI spokesperson.
Dr. Dabholkar, who fought against superstitions, was shot dead during his morning walk on the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune in August 2013. The Bombay high court had transferred the probe to the CBI on May 9, 2014.http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-cbi-finds-evidence-against-two-affiliated-to-right-wing-groups-2218955
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