Virendra Tawde's arrest is attempt to defame Hindu outfits: Sanatan Sanstha

Reacting to the arrest of one of its disciples in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case, the Hindu right-wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha on Saturday claimed that an attempt was being made to malign it and other Hindu organisations.

"They previously arrested Sadhvi (Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur) in the Malegoan blast case. She was acquitted after four years as there was no evidence. Similarly they had arrested six Sanatan members in Margao blast case and released them after five years," said Abhay Vartak, Sanatan spokesperson. "Now, Dr Virendra(sing) Tawde has been arrested in Dabholkar case. In this way attempts are being made to malign the Hindu outfits," he said. "There is an international conspiracy to destroy the Hindu organisations," he added.

"When Congress was in power we experienced repression and conspiracy. Even after the change of government, we are going through the same thing," he said.

About Tawde's association with the Sanstha, Vartak said, "He is an ENT surgeon and used to come to our ashram for treating the sadhaks (disciples). He was a Sanstha member, but was not holding any post." 

CBI, late last night, arrested Hindu Janajagruti Samiti's member Virendrasing Tawde in connection with the murder of Dabholkar, a well-known anti-superstition activist, in Pune in 2013. It is the first arrest in the case by the agency. The Samiti is linked to Sanatan Sanstha, which has earlier come under the scanner in connection with the murder of rationalist and CPI leader Govind Pansare in February 2015.