Dabholkar murder case: Arrested advocate, aide not cooperating, court told
Pune, Jun 1: The CBI Saturday told a special court here that advocate Sanjeev Punalekar and his assistant Vikram Bhave, who were arrested in connection with rationalist Narendra Dabholkar murder case of 2013, were not cooperating with it in the investigation.
On the CBI's request seeking 14-day custody for both the accused, additional sessions court judge A V Rotte extended their remand till June 4.
Punalekar, reportedly an office-bearer of the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, had represented some of the accused in the murder case.
The CBI had said that Punalekar had asked Sharad Kalaskar, one of the alleged shooters of Dabholkar, to destroy the weapons while Bhave had helped them in reconnaissance before the crime.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Prakash Suryawanshi told the court Saturday that Punalekar and Bhave are not cooperating with investigators, and that more time is needed to interrogate them.
"A mobile phone, two laptops belonging to Punalekar have been seized and the data from the mobile is being analysed. Punalekar's interrogation is needed for further investigation," said Suryawanshi.
Punalekar is not only an advocate but he is also associated with 'Sanatan Sanstha', he said, adding that the advocate had conspired with the other accused in the case, including those who have been named in the charge sheet.
The Sanstha is a right-wing organisation which is accused of preaching orthodox form of 'Sanatan' (ancient) dharma or religion.
"Punalekar has not acted as an advocate but he has crossed his limits by advising one of the shooters to destroy the weapon," Suryawanshi said.
He also told the court that they have conducted Forensic Psychology Analysis and Forensic Statement Analysis tests on Punalekar, whose results are awaited.
On Bhave, Suryawanshi said the accused is a convict in the 2008 Thane bomb blast case.
He said Bhave is also not cooperating during investigation.
"The vehicle used in the commission of crime (assassinating Dabholkar) has not been recovered yet, and since Bhave is not cooperating with the investigation, information about the vehicle is still not been revealed," he told the court.
The CBI also mentioned a "status report", submitted earlier in the Bombay High Court, which Suryawanshi said provides a substantial ground for extending the custody of the duo.
So far, six people, including Sanatan Sanstha member and ENT surgeon Virendrasinh Tawde, and alleged shooters Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar, have been arrested by the CBI in the Dabholkar case.
Punalekar's counsel Subhash Jha said even if the communication between Kalaskar and Punalekar assumed to be true, it was a "privilege communication" between a lawyer and a client.
"A confession statement given by Kalaskar to Karnataka Police in some other case cannot be a base to arrest my client in the present case," said Jha.
He said the present case against Punalekar revolves only around the advised given by Punalekar to Kalaskar.
"So the offence does not travel beyond 201 of IPC (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence) which is a bailable offence," argued Jha.
Bhave's lawyer Ghanshyam Upadhyay questioned the progress report of the CBI arguing that the investigation agency has not come out with any incriminating material against the former since his arrest on May 25.
"There is no development in the case and now to get the further custody, the CBI is citing reasons that the accused is not cooperating," he said.
Dabholkar, an anti-superstition activist, was shot dead while on morning walk in Pune on August 20, 2013.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
