Narendra Dabholkar case: CBI raids houses of 2 Sanatan members

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday searched the premises of two private persons at Pune and Panvel in Maharashtra as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged murder of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar.

CBI officials on Wednesday afternoon conducted raids at Sanatan Ashram in Panvel and residences of Sarang Akolkar and Virendra Tawde, both members of the Hindu outfit.

Officials confirmed conducting raids and said that the material seized was being scrutinised. “Certain documents and mobile numbers, emails etc. recovered during searches are being scrutinised. A red corner notice had been issued by Interpol against one private person (an absconder) in the Goa blasts of 2009,” read CBI’s official statement.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashish Khetan had tweeted in the morning that Sanatan Sanstha and its affiliate, Hindu Janjagruti Samitee, were behind Dr Dabholkar’s murder.

“Agencies have cracked the case. The sadhaks of Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janjagruti Samitee behind Dr Dabholkar’s murder identified. Sanatan Sanstha carried out several bomb blasts in Goa and Maharashtra. Agencies wanted it to be banned. Congress government failed to act,” Mr Khetan posted on a microblogging site.

The CBI spokesperson refused to comment on the matter and said that further investigation was underway.

On the other hand, Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak cried foul over the CBI raids. “It is a conspiracy to malign Sanatan Sanstha’s image. It’s a regular raid that has been conducted by the CBI and they have not cracked the case. Secondly, CBI officials raided the Panvel Ashram where they questioned Dr Tawde who was earlier a practitioner at J.J. Hospital. Later, he left the hospital due to health problems and used to visit our ashram for regular check-up,” Mr Vartak said, defending Dr Tawde.

Mr Vartak even alleged that the CBI broke into another member, Mr Akolkar’s house during the raids. “The CBI raided our worker Mr Akolkar’s Pune residence when no one was at home. It is a clear case of housebreaking. We will file a police case against them in the local police station,” he said.