The Bombay High Court has granted bail to six of the 10 accused in the 2015 murder of Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Govind Pansare, citing delays in the trial and their prolonged pre-trial detention. The decision was made by a single-judge bench of Justice Anil S Kilor, who observed that the trial showed no significant progress and was unlikely to conclude soon.
Who Were Granted Bail?
The six accused—Sachin Andure, Ganesh Miskin, Amit Degvekar, Amit Baddi, Bharat Kurane, and Vasudev Suryavanshi—were arrested between 2018 and 2019. Their bail pleas were approved due to the lack of direct evidence and the slow pace of the trial.
The Murder of Govind Pansare
On February 16, 2015, Pansare and his wife, Uma, were attacked by two unidentified assailants on a motorbike while returning home in Kolhapur. Pansare succumbed to his injuries four days later, while his wife survived. The attackers were later identified as Vinay Pawar and Sarang Akolkar, both of whom remain absconding.
Court’s Observations
Justice Kilor noted that the prosecution’s case was largely circumstantial, relying heavily on the testimony of Sagar Lakhe, who was arrested in 2018 for his role in the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh. Lakhe’s statement, recorded over three years after the incident, alleged that a conspiracy to kill Pansare was planned in February 2015.
The court pointed out that only 25-30 of the 231 prosecution witnesses had been examined, highlighting the slow progress of the case. Given these factors, the bench ruled that keeping the accused in jail indefinitely without trial completion was unjustified.
What Happens Next?
The bail plea of another accused, Dr. Virendrasinh Tawade—allegedly the mastermind behind the murders of rationalists Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar, MM Kalburgi, and Lankesh—will be heard separately. Tawade is already incarcerated for Dabholkar’s 2013 murder.
The case remains significant as investigations have linked the killings of these rationalists to Hindu extremist groups. In July 2024, a special court in Kolhapur confirmed that the four murders were interconnected.
While the court’s decision raises concerns over delayed justice, the victims’ families continue to seek accountability and a fair trial.
