"This Can't Go On Endlessly, We Need A Decision": Bombay HC Seeks Govt's Stand On Transfer Of Govind Pansare Murder Investigation To Maharashtra ATS

"We will grant you time till 1st but we hope and expect some decision is taken. We can't wait endlessly, we want some decision to be taken," Justice Revati Mohite Dere heading the division bench said.

The court then granted the State time till August 1, 2022 to decide on whether or not it was agreeing for the transfer and to file a status report on the case.

The application filed by the 82-year-old's daughter, Smita Pansare, states that nearly seven years after her father was gunned down on his morning walk, the SIT failed to make any clinching break through in the case.

The connection between the murders of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, Professor Kalburgi, Pansare and Gauri Lankesh were made by the Maharashtra ATS while investigating the 2019 Nalla Sopara Arms Case of 2019, the application added.

On Thursday, Senior Advocate Ashok Mundargi for the Maharashtra Government said that the investigating officer from the SIT was very unwell, therefore he couldn't manage to get instructions from the State's home department for the transfer of investigation.

Advocate Abhay Nevagi for the petitioners pointed out that even a status report was to be filed, which was not done in this case.

"We will grant you one week's time. You can take telephonic instructions. We understand today, but this can't go on endlessly. You will file the status report within the week."

Mundargi assured the court that the status report would be filed within a week's time. 

According to the petition, alleged shooters Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar are still absconding in the case. With several of the co-accused filing for discharge "if immediate steps are not taken, the investigation to bring absconding accused may not happen" the plea states.

"To identify the masterminds as well the as well as shooters of Comrade Govind Pansare, Cri Case may be transferred from the respondent SIT to Maharashtra ATS with immediate effect," the plea read.

According to the petition, five different charge sheets have been filed by different investigating agencies "however, no efforts are made by any of the Investigating Agencies to reach out to the masterminds behind all the 5 cases."

At present the respective State Governments have in fact provided protection to the people named in the hitlist. Even today 40 intellectuals along with the petitioner are provided with the security. "The combined reading of all 5 Chargesheets and specific reading of Chargesheet in the case of Nalasopara Bomb Blast case, it becomes clear that there exists a deeper and larger conspiracy and masterminds behind all the 5 cases are not traced.