Govind Pansare Murder Case: Bombay HC directs speedy trial, ceases further monitoring of investigationq | File Photo
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday decided to cease monitoring the investigation into the 2015 murder of Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Govind Pansare, while directing the sessions court to expedite and conclude the trial promptly.
A bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata observed, “This Court is of the considered opinion that further monitoring of the investigation of the present crime is not necessary.”
On February 16, 2015, Pansare was shot in Kolhapur and he succumbed to injuries on February 20. The high court has been monitoring the probe in the case following a plea by Pansare’s daughter Smita and daughter-in-law Megha. They sought continued monitoring of the probe, citing the investigating agency’s inability to trace the shooters.
The bench clarified that the investigation had been completed, barring the arrest of two absconding accused, Vinay B. Pawar and Sarang D. Akolkar @ Kulkarni. “For the purpose of arresting absconding accused, continuous monitoring… is not necessary. After the accused persons are arrested, the investigating agency can report it to the trial Court as per the provisions of Cr.P.C.,” the court said.
Initially handled by Rajarampuri Police Station, Kolhapur, the investigation was later transferred to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the Additional Director General of Police (CID), Maharashtra. Of the 12 accused identified, 10 were arrested, and four supplementary charge sheets were filed.
Dissatisfied with the lack of progress in tracing the shooters, the petitioners sought the case’s transfer to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The HC, on August 3, 2022, had transferred the probe to the ATS observing that there has been “no headway” or “break through” in the case. The team was led by Superintendent of Police Jayant Meena, was formed to continue the probe.
Petitioners argued for continued monitoring, alleging links between Pansare’s murder and three other killings – of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, journalist Gauri Lankesh, and Kannada writer M M Kalburgi – and cited unresolved aspects in these cases.
However, the court, after reviewing a confidential report from ATS, concluded, “Perusal of the report indicates that the ATS has thoroughly investigated the present crime from all angles… apart from tracing out two absconding accused, nothing further remains to be investigated.”
Petitioners’ counsel Anand Grover contended that court supervision had spurred progress and should continue. However, Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Mundargi, representing ATS, assured the court of ongoing efforts to apprehend the absconding accused.
The court emphasized that trial proceedings had already begun, with 28 witnesses examined as of December 2024, and directed the sessions court to conduct daily hearings. “This Court is of the considered opinion that further monitoring of the investigation is not necessary,” it concluded, urging the trial court to expedite the trial in the case.
On February 16, 2015, Pansare (82) and his wife Uma were returning home from their morning walk in the Samrat Nagar area of Kolhapur when two bike-borne men fired multiple rounds at them before fleeing.
Pansare succumbed to his injuries on February 20, 2015, while under treatment at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. His wife survived the attack after receiving treatment in the hospital.
