HC: Get ballistics report in murder case of activists

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Thursday directed the highest officers of Maharashtra police and the CBI to contact the Karnataka DGP to obtain a ballistics report from FSL, which indicates that the same weapon was used to kill CPI leader Govind Pansare, rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and Kannada writer M M Kalburgi.
A bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice V L Achliya were “surprised” when additional solicitor-general Anil Singh and public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde complained that the Karnataka CID was not sharing the report with them.“We are surprised... you are not getting it despite you being the CBI” said Justice More. Dabholkar was shot dead on August 20, 2013, in Pune. Pansare was shot at on February 16, 2015, in Kolhapur and died on February 20.
Their kin have urged the HC to monitor the probe by CBI in Dabholkar’s killing and the inquiry of a special investigation team (SIT) of Maharashtra police in Pansare’s case. Abhay Nevagi, appearing for the kin of Pansare and Dabholkar drew the court’s attention to a news report on the FSL’s findings. Singh and Shinde said bullets from the bodies of Dabholkar and Pansare and empty cartridges from the crime scene were handed to the Karnataka CID, which is probing Kalburgi’s killing. “We also expect from them to cooperate,” said Singh, urging the court to direct the Karnataka CID to share the report so that the probe can be taken further. “If all murders are committed by the same weapon, it is very important information,” said Justice More, pointing out that CBI’s request was made on December 8.
In their order, the bench said, “We are surprised that an agency like CBI is making this grievance. We are also surprised that the Karnataka CID is not cooperating with CBI.” The judges directed that the state DGP and CBI director take up the matter with the Karnataka DGP.