Bombay HC grants bail to convict Sharad Kalaskar in Dabholkar murder case

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar, who was an accused in the 2013 murder of noted rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and later convicted in 2024, while saying that questions remain over his identification as one of the assailants.

A division bench of the High Court allowed Kalaskar’s plea for bail pending the final hearing of his appeal challenging the 2024 conviction and life sentence awarded by a special court.

Kalaskar, who had been lodged in jail for several years, said before the court that there were inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case, particularly regarding his identification as one of the shooters involved in the murder.

Taking note of these submissions, the court granted him bail on a bond of Rs 50,000.

Dabholkar, a 67-year-old anti-superstition activist and founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants in Pune on August 20, 2013, in a murder that had triggered nationwide outrage.

In 2024, a special court had convicted Kalaskar and co-accused Sachin Prakashrao Andure, sentencing both to life imprisonment for their role in the killing.

However, the same court had acquitted them of charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and had also acquitted several other accused persons, a decision that has been challenged in higher courts.

During the hearing, Kalaskar’s counsel said that the appeal against the conviction is likely to take considerable time for final disposal and that continued incarceration would be unjustified, especially in light of the doubts raised about his identification.

The High Court, while granting relief, clarified that the observations made at this stage are prima facie and will not influence the final adjudication of the appeal.

The High Court had earlier granted bail to Kalaskar in connection with the murder of Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Govind Pansare, citing prolonged incarceration of nearly seven years and delays in the trial.

The Dabholkar murder case has remained one of the most high-profile cases involving the killing of rationalist thinkers in India, with multiple agencies probing the alleged conspiracy and links between various accused.

Appeals related to both convictions and acquittals in the case are currently pending before the High Court.

IANS