Intercepted conversations lead police to Sanstha’s Gaikwad
A number of telephone conversations they intercepted, and matching statements given to them by Sanatan Sanstha members, have led the police to conclude that Sanstha member Sameer Gaikwad is the man who murdered communist leader Govind Pansare. Pansare was shot dead in Kolhapur on February 20, 2015. The police presented their chargesheet accusing Gaikwad of the murder before a court in Kolhapur.
The police had placed the phones of Gaikwad, his girlfriend Jyoti, and two other Sanatan Sanstha members under surveillance between June and August 2015.
As per the chargesheet Gaikwad spoke to Jyoti on June 19, 2015, saying, “Done with Pansare now should I do (the same) with (journalist) Nikhil Wagle.” On the very next day, Jyoti asked him if he was aware of what he had said. “Do you remember what you blabbered last night,” she asked. On June 21, again Gaikwad mentioned “who Wagle forget it ” In the same conversation, Jyoti (28) informs Sameer that her cousin has gone to “Gadchiroli for some training.” Jyoti, who is from Mumbai, came in contact with Gaikwad in September 2014 while working for Sanatan.
In another conversation with his friend Sumit on June 27, 2015, Gaikwad said he would go to the Nashik Kumbh Mela. “I will visit Nashik Kumbh Mela. I have committed so many sins, I will take two (holy) dips. Not many, the first sin was that I was born and second that I did not do anything,” he said. On July 21, 2015 Gaikwad once again said he would go to Nashik to wash away his sins.
On the same day, Gaikwad spoke with another Sanatan member, his friend Anjali (33). She said, “Dada, I am taking training, I go every morning for training. Who will I kill I have killed who was supposed to be killed; now I have no enemy. Are you saying so ” Anjali was staying away from her husband since 2014 in Sanatan’s Goa ashram along with their 11-year-old daughter. She has said her conversation with Gaikwad was in reference to self-defence training given at the Sanatan ashram. On June 30, 2015 while speaking with Anjali once again, Gaikwad says “You know that I have been trapped in a big matter, do not tell.”
On August 1, 2015 Sameer and Jyoti had a conversation in which he emphasised his higher caste, insulting Jyoti for her lower caste. He said he belongs to “96 kuli Maratha” caste. “I will break but will not bend, I am not Ambedkar, we are descendants of Shivaji Maharaj and belong to the royal family, and you are labourers.” On this Jyoti says: “You are king, we are sepoys.” Sameer contradicted her saying, “-"Not even sepoy, but labourers. Labour union organisation Pansare.” All the three friends have admitted to having these conversations with Sameer. The Sanatan Sanstha has organised a battery of lawyers to defend Sameer. His lawyers have maintained that he is being framed.
