Govind Pansare Murder Case: Bombay High Court Grants Bail To Six Accused

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (January 29) granted bail to six men booked for the murder of communist party of India (CPI) leader Govind Pansare, who was allegedly shot down in August 2013.Single-judge Justice Anil Kilor granted the bail considering the fact that the six accused - Sachin Andure, Vasudev Suryavanshi, Ganesh Miskin, Amit Degvekar, Amit Baddi and Bharat Kurane - have spent more than six years in jail. A detailed copy of the order is yet to be made available. Confirming the development, advocate Siddh Vidya, who represented the accused, said, "The court granted bail to all my clients on the ground of long incarceration. The court has also noted the fact that as on date at least 250 witnesses are yet to be examined, which would mean that the trial would not be concluded in near future."Vidya further said that the judge did not hear the bail application filed by prime accused Virendrasinh Tawade. Notably, Pansare was 82 at the time of his murder. Reportedly he along with his wife Uma were returning from their daily morning walk in Samrat Nagar, Kolhapur, where they resided. Two motorists, with helmets covering their faces, suddenly opened fire on the couple, killing them, in August 2013. By 2016, charge sheets were filed against prime accused Sameer Gaikwad and Virendrasinh Tawde. In 2019, four others Amol Kale, Vasudeo Suryavashi, Amit Digwekar and Bharat Kurne were charge sheeted. They've been booked for murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations.Six accused have been charge sheeted since 2015 but the SIT has not been able to track the crime's weapons, the getaway bike and the absconding alleged shooters, Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar.Considering this fact, a division bench of the HC had in 2022, transferred the probe to the State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). From, 2015 onwards, the HC had been monitoring the investigations in the killings of Pansare and rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, who was allegedly killed by right-wing extremists in a similar manner. However, the Pansare family has been "unsatisfied" with the investigations in the case and thus had contended that the ATS like the SIT failed to properly investigate the role of "Sanatan Sanstha" a right-wing extremist group, in the killings of Pansare, Dabholkar, MM Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh.Recently, on January 2, the HC disposed of the family's petition and discontinued monitoring the probe in the case.Case title: Sachin Prakashrao Andure vs. State Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Bom) 39Click Here To Read/Download Order

Govind Pansare Murder Case: Bombay High Court Grants Bail To Six Accused

Narsi Benwal

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