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Bombay High Court rebukes CBI for bungling up probe in Dabholkar case

Coming Down Heavily On CBI, The Bombay High Court On Saturday Said It Was “bungling Up' Probe In The Murder Case Of Rationalist Narendra Dabholkar By Causing Inordinate Delay In Obtaining Forensic Reports From The Scotland Yard.

PTI | Updated on: 16 Dec 2016, 07:32:50 PM
Bombay High Court

Mumbai:

Coming down heavily on CBI, the Bombay High Court on Saturday said it was “bungling up” probe in the murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar by causing inordinate delay in obtaining forensic reports from the Scotland Yard.

A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and B P Colabawalla, which was hearing petitions filed by the family of Dabholkar and murdered activist Govind Pansare seeking HC supervision in the probe, was today irked when CBI sought further adjournment in the case as it was still awaiting report from the forensic lab in UK.

ALSO READ: (CBI makes first arrest in Narendra Dabholkar murder case)

“The more you postpone and delay the more benefit the accused will get. It also gives an impression in the society that you (CBI) are not serious about the case and are not pursuing the probe sincerely.

“You are just bungling it up. It is your credibility at stake. You should remember that this delay is impacting two trials which are ready to commence,” the court said.

The agency had earlier claimed before the HC that it had sent bullets and empty shells recovered from Pansare’s body and the crime scene to the Scotland Yard to ascertain if there was any link between the Dabholkar and Pansare murders.

The agency wanted to seek a third opinion as the forensic labs in Mumbai and Bangalore had submitted conflicting reports.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for CBI, today told the court that the agency is still awaiting reports from UK and that several letters have been sent pursuing the case.

“Alternately we could seek opinion from the forensic lab in Delhi,” Singh said. Irked by this, the court said if there was alternative of seeking opinion locally then why did the agency not do it before.

ALSO READ: (CBI files charge sheet against Hindu Janajagruti Samiti member in Dabholkar case)

“You (CBI) were aware of the difficulties and obstacles when you sought report from UK. What prevented you from seeking opinion from a local third party expert before? The point is efforts taken should be sincere. Especially in cases like this where the offence is of a serious nature and impacts the society,” Justice Dharmadhikari said.

The court noted that the delay caused by the probe agency would not only benefit the accused but would also give a bad impression to the society at large.

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First Published : 16 Dec 2016, 07:27:00 PM

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Dabholkar Murder CBI

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