Dabholkar Murder Case: Daughter’s Appeal Against Acquittal Challenged
The acquitted individuals argue that the appeal is too late and lacks necessary documents
Narendra Dabholkar, Mukta Dabholkar, Bombay High Court, Maharashtra, Sanjiv Punalekar, Conspiracy
Mumbai: So, there’s this ongoing drama around the murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. One of the guys who got acquitted is pushing back against his daughter Mukta’s appeal. He claims she’s way too late with it.
Back in May 2024, the court found Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar guilty and slapped them with life sentences. But they dodged some serious charges under the UAPA and Arms Act. The court also let go of Virendra Singh Tawde and a couple of others, saying there just wasn’t enough evidence.
Mukta’s not backing down, though. She’s taken her fight to the Bombay High Court, saying the acquittals should be challenged. She believes the murder was part of a bigger plot by some right-wing group, including Sanatan Sanstha. Her argument is that the court didn’t really get how involved these guys were in trying to silence her dad.
Then there’s Sanjiv Punalekar, one of the acquitted, who’s saying Mukta’s appeal is way past the deadline. He argues that the law gives you 30 days to file an appeal, and she didn’t even ask for an extension or include the necessary court documents.
But Mukta’s lawyer, Kabeer Pansare, is firing back. He says that under the law, victims can appeal without worrying about a time limit. He’s confident they’re in the right here.
As of August 21, 2024, the High Court has sent out notices to everyone involved, including the CBI. They’ve scheduled a hearing for Punalekar’s application on February 26. It’s definitely a case to keep an eye on!