Narendra Dabholkar murder accused was in touch with the man wanted in the 2009 Goa blast case, reported dna. The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday arrested Hindu Janajagruti Samiti leader Dr Virendra Tawde (pictured above) from Panvel in Mumbai in connection with the murder of the Maharashtra writer and rationalist in 2013. According to the report, the arrest was based on 'scrutiny of cyber forensic evidence'.
A week before the arrest, the investigating agency said they had recovered sim cards and mobile phones from Tawde's home during a raid. Investigators are believed to have found emails exchanged between the ENT specialist and Sanatan Sanstha member Sarang Akolkar, who the National Investigation Agency is looking for in connection with the Goa blast.
"When confronted with the evidence, Tawde was not able to provide proper explanations in multiple questioning sessions, following which he was taken into custody," the English daily said quoting a source in the CBI. A city court has sent Tawde to police custody till June 16.
Dabholkar had founded the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and was known for crusading against the evils of superstition and attempted to get an anti-black magic Bill passed several times in the state. His organisation crafted the Anti-Jaadu Tona Bill (Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Ordinance), which was originally opposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, who claimed it would go against Hindu culture. Dabholkar, however, maintained that his Bill had little to do with religion. The Maharashtra Cabinet, then led by the Congress, cleared the Bill a day after his murder.
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