High court: Can NIA probe Dabholkar murder?

The Bombay high court on Tuesday issued notices to the state government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and directed them to file their replies to a public interest litigation, in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case, that seeks application of stringent laws under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and probe by the NIA.

A division bench of justice PV Hardas and justice PN Deshmukh were hearing a PIL filed by Ketan Tirodkar. The court has asked the state and NIA to reply whether UAPA sections are attracted to the case.

Dabholkar, a well-known rationalist, was shot dead in Pune on August 20 by unidentified persons. The police have registered a murder case against unidentified assailants but there has been no headway in the probe.

Tirodkar’s PIL states that Dabholkar was receiving threats for some time and the state was aware of this. The Pune police could have prepared a threat perception report on their own. The government need not wait for the person’s approval for providing him/her with security.

Further, it says that the police have come across information about the possible involvement of astrology practitioners against whom Dabholkar was about to start an agitation. It is suspected these people were in touch with Hindu right-wing extremists who blamed Dabholkar for hurting the religious sentiments.