Will Not Monitor Trial In Govind Pansare Murder Case: Says Bombay High Court, Orders Daily Hearing In The Matter

A division bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata while disposing of an application moved by prime accused Virendra Tawade, said the only aspect which is being investigated as on date is the whereabouts of the absconding accused in the case.

"For this, monitoring by this court is not required. However after taking into account the submissions, we expedite the trial and hearing in the case is ordered to be conducted on a daily basis," the bench said while pronouncing it's order.

The bench while reserving its judgment in December 2024, had made it clear that there was nothing left in the case which would need further monitoring by the High Court. The bench also had refused to consider the contention of the kin of Pansare, that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) (probing the case since 2015) and also the State's Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), which was tasked with the probe in 2022, failed to probe the role of "Sanatan Sansthan" in the murders of Pansare, rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, journalist Gauri Lankesh and also MM Kalburgi.

Pansare was 82 at the time of his murder. By 2016, charge sheets were filed against Sameer Gaikwad and prime accused Virendrasinh Tawde. In 2019, four others Amol Kale, Vasudeo Suryavashi, Amit Digwekar and Bharat Kurne were charge sheeted. They've been booked for murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations.

Six accused have been charge sheeted since 2015 but the SIT has not been able to track the crime's weapons, the getaway bike and the absconding alleged shooters, Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar.

The order of the court comes on an application filed by prime accused Tawade, who urged the HC to stop monitoring the trial in this case. He contended that by continuing to monitor the trial, especially when several witnesses have been examined, the HC cannot usurp powers of the trial court.