In a significant development on May 10, 2024, a court acquitted three individuals, including Dr. Virendra Singh Tawde, Vikram Bhave of Sanatan Sanstha, and Advocate Sanjeev Punalekar, of all charges related to the murders of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare. The trio, who had been imprisoned for years under allegations of involvement in the high-profile cases, were found innocent by the judiciary.
The acquittal has sparked fresh demands for accountability from Sanatan Sanstha, a Hindu organization that has consistently denied any involvement in the murders. Speaking after the verdict, Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak questioned whether those who accused the organization would now issue an apology. Vartak criticized what he described as a deliberate attempt by certain groups to malign Sanatan Sanstha and Hinduism at large, calling for action against the responsible authorities.
At a press conference, Advocate Sanjeev Punalekar and Dr. Amit Thadani also addressed the broader implications of the case. They highlighted the role of misinformation in targeting Hindutva organizations and emphasized the need for Hindu unity in the face of what they termed as “false narratives.”
Vartak accused the Anti-Superstition Committee and so-called “Urban Naxalites” of conspiring to falsely accuse Sanatan Sanstha. He noted that despite the violent attacks during the August 11, 2012, riots at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, no strict action has been taken against the perpetrators, while the same groups are active in filing hate speech cases against Hindutva leaders.
Advocate Punalekar, representing the Mumbai High Court, criticized communists for allegedly portraying themselves as intellectuals and misleading the public. He accused them of glorifying “fake heroes” and discrediting true national icons, citing examples like Nikhil Wagle and Asim Sarode. Punalekar further claimed that certain NGOs, along with elements from the film industry, journalists, and police, are part of a larger agenda to undermine Hindu organizations.
Dr. Amit Thadani, a noted surgeon and author, condemned the mishandling of the Dabholkar murder investigation, which he believes focused unjustly on implicating Hindutva groups. Dr. Thadani, who has penned a book titled Dabholkar-Pansare Murder: Mysteries of the Investigation?, argued that the inquiry ignored other potential motives, such as financial disputes, in favor of targeting Hindu organizations.
