CID to seek custody of Virendra Tawade

The state CID on Monday said in the Bombay high court that it would seek custody of Virendra Tawade, an accused in the Dr Narendra Dabholkar murder case, to ascertain if there was a link between the killings of Dr Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi.

Justice Sadhana Jadhav was hearing a petition filed by the state CID against the Kolhapur sessions court order. The court had refused to stay the trail of the Pansare murder case where Sameer Gaikwad was the sole accused. Earlier, the HC had accepted the CID’s plea and granted stay till further orders.

On Monday, when the matter came up for hearing, the state told the HC that it did not get the forensic report from Scotland Yard and that it would seek Tawade’s custody for further investigation. Advocate Sanjiv Punalikar, however, dismissed these arguments and said that till date, there was nothing on record to show any link between the murders. “There is no commitment from the CID or CBI as to by when they will procure the forensic report from Scotland Yard. Why should the trial be stayed on grounds of likelihood There are at least 40 witnesses who have nothing to do with the bullets or cartridges seized from the crime scene. Their evidence can be recorded,” he said.

The court posted the petition for further hearing on August 11 and said that the interim stay on the trial would continue till then.