Dabholkar Murder: Bombay HC Grants Bail to Convict Sachin Andure, Suspends His Life Sentence
The court said the relief is not an acquittal and will keep Andhure out of custody under conditions while the case continues.
- On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court granted bail to Sachin Andhure and stayed his life sentence in the 2013 murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.
- A sessions court convicted Andhure in May 2024 for the 2013 shooting of Dabholkar, founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, during a morning walk in Pune.
- Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Bhonsale granted relief after questioning identification evidence, with defense counsel arguing witnesses could not conclusively establish Andhure's identity in court.
- Andhure, who remains on trial for the killing of Govind Pansare, can now leave custody subject to court conditions while legal proceedings continue in both cases.
- Dabholkar's death was the first in a series of similar killings involving Govind Pansare, Kalburgi, and Gauri Lankesh, triggering widespread outrage and protests across Maharashtra.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Terming the statements of witnesses in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case as "very weak", the Bombay High Court in its order said that two eyewitnesses in the case had identified Andure for the first time almost eight years after the shootout, which is a long time for identification.
'Weak Evidence': Narendra Dabholkar Murder Convict's Life Term Suspended
A bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Bhonsale noted that eyewitnesses identified Andure after a gap of eight years and pointed to loose ends regarding the recovery of the weapon used in the crime.
Weak evidence: HC suspends life term of Dabholkar murder convict
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday, August 18, suspended the life sentence of Sachin Andure, a convict in the 2013 murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, and granted him bail, stating that the evidence against him was “extremely weak” and may eventually lead to his acquittal. A bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Bhonsale noted that eyewitnesses identified Andure after a gap of eight years and pointed to loose ends rega…
Bombay HC Stays Life Sentence, Grants Bail to Narendra Dhabolkar Muder Accused Sachin Andhure
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Activist and rationalist Narendra Dhabolkar was shot dead in Pune on August 20, 2013, while out for a morning walk. In the case, a Pune sessions court in 2024 had sentenced two people while acquitting three others. Sharad Kalaskar, and Sachin Andhure were given life imprisonment for the murder. India News | Bombay HC Stays Life Sentence, Grants Bail to Narendra Dhabolkar Muder Accused Sachin …
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