Dabholkar murder accused sent to CBI custody

Sachin Andure, an accused in 2013 Narendra Dabholkar murder case was sent to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody till August 26, by a Pune court on Sunday.

The CBI arrested Andure from Maharashtra's Aurangabad district on Saturday and produced him before the court today. The CBI custody of the murder accused comes a day ahead of the fifth death anniversary of Dabholkar, Maharashtra based rationalist.

Speaking to ANI, Andure's advocate told ANI, "As per the CBI, Andure is the person who actually fired at Dr. Dabholkar and they (CBI) today sought further custody from the court. But in an earlier charge sheet filed by the CBI in Virendrasingh Tawde case, they have shown other two absconding persons, Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar, as the one who actually fired towards Dabholkar. Therefore this is some new theory to implicate Sachin."

Hamid Dabholkar, son of Narendra Dabholkar expressed satisfaction over the arrest and told ANI, "I think this is an important step in the right direction. We urge the Central Government and State Government that they should not stop here and should go to the root of the investigation and try to get the mastermind behind this heinous act."

Dabholkar, who was the founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) was shot dead on August 20, 2013, by bike-borne assailants while returning home from a morning walk.