Bombay High Court Grants Bail to Sachin Andure in Dabholkar Case
In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has granted bail to Sachin Prakashrao Andure, who was convicted for the murder of rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar in 2013. The decision was made by a Bench comprising Justices S.V. Kotwal and R.R. Bhonsale, who invoked the principle of parity with co-convict Sharad Bhausaheb Kalaskar. The court has also suspended Andure’s life sentence pending the resolution of his appeal against his conviction.
Defense Cites Flaws in Prosecution’s Case
Senior Advocate Niteen Pradhan, representing Andure, argued that the prosecution’s case heavily relied on an uncorroborated extra-judicial confession. Pradhan highlighted the absence of a formal Test Identification Parade (TIP) to verify Andure’s identity and noted that the weapon used in the murder was never recovered.
Andure’s release comes on grounds similar to those that facilitated Kalaskar’s bail. In April of the same year, Kalaskar was granted bail by a coordinate bench of the High Court. The bench emphasized that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had failed to conduct a TIP, thus compromising the legal standing of photo identification conducted while the accused was in custody.
Long Wait for Appeal Influences Court Decision
The Court observed that Kalaskar had already spent more than seven-and-a-half years in custody, with little hope of his appeal being heard soon. This situation contributed to the decision to grant bail to both convicts until their appeals are resolved.
Background of the Dabholkar Case
The case dates back to 2013 when Dr. Narendra Dabholkar was fatally shot on a bridge in Pune. Initially investigated by the Pune Police, the case was transferred to the CBI in 2014, following directions from the High Court. The trial began in September 2021, and in May 2024, a Pune sessions court convicted both Kalaskar and Andure, sentencing them to life imprisonment.
Pending Appeals and Acquittals
However, the trial court acquitted three other accused due to insufficient evidence. These individuals included Dr. Virendrasinh Tawade, Advocate Sanjiv Punalekar, and activist Vikram Bhave, all associated with the right-wing charitable trust, Sanatan Sanstha. Appeals against these acquittals are currently pending in the High Court. The developments in this case continue to draw attention, highlighting the complexities and challenges in the judicial process.
