HC loses its cool over leaks in Dabholkar murder probe
Rosy.Sequeira@timesgroup.comMumbai:
Bombay high court on Thursday said it is “not happy” with the leak of vital information in the probe into the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.
The court is monitoring the probe into the shooting of Dabholkar and CPI leader Govind Pansare on a plea by their families.
When additional solicitor general Anil Singh,
representing the CBI, told a bench of Justices Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari
and Burgess Colabawalla that the probe is at a crucial stage, Justice
Dharmadhikari said: “What is this everyday hue and cry? What is all this
coming in the press? At whose instance? Over-enthusiasm would be
fatal.’’ Senior advocate Ashok Mundargi, representing the SIT probing
Pansare’s murder, said: “We are not party to it.’’ To a query from the
court, he replied that the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS), which is
probing the Nalasopara arms haul case, “is different”. He said the CBI
will take the custody of the accused to see if there is a link with
Dabholkar’s killing. And after CBI finishes interrogating them, SIT will
seek custody.
“We have already instructed our officers and
pleaders in the lower court not to reveal any information to the press,”
said Singh.
The peeved judges continued the tirade. They
pointed out that the slain activists’ family members are prime
witnesses, but are giving interviews when the matter is in court. “If
they have no faith, let them continue like this,” said Justice
Dharmadhikari, adding, “We are not happy with what is going on.”
Advocate Abhay Nevagi, representing both families, said on the occasion
of Dabholkar’s fifth death anniversary, there were some programmes that
the family attended.
Observing that the police are showing a “total
lack of maturity’’, the judge slammed the media coverage. “Media doesn’t
know its responsibility… Media doesn’t know that presumption of
innocence is a human right. It is a very boring, long, tedious, arduous
road from being an accused to a convict,” said Justice Dharmadhikari.
The bench posted the matter to October 10, asking
the investigators not to abandon past theories. “We are cautioning you
the probe is at a vital stage. There could be an attempt to mislead both
of you. Maybe the real culprits may have forwarded this (theory),” said
the bench.
https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-times-of-india-mumbai-edition/20180907/281706910566886
