Dabholkar’s son meets Rajnath Singh

A delegation of Maharashtra Andhashradda Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh demanding that the “planchette” allegedly conducted by Pune Police to investigate the Dabholkar murder be probed. The delegation told the minister though it’s almost a year since the murder of the rationalist, no headway has been made in the case. Singh promised to look into the matter.

The delegation also met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and leaders of Aam Admi Party (AAP) and sought their help in enacting an anti-black magic law at the national level. The delegation comprising Hamid Dabholkar, son of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and MANS office-bearers Avinash Patil and Madhav Bagwe held meetings with various political leaders over three days.

“We told the Union Home Minister that it’s been almost a year but there’s no breakthrough in investigation. Three months ago, Bombay High Court transferred the probe to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) but the agency has done little investigation on the ground. This is agonising for family members and colleagues. It should be investigated with the same urgency and vigour as that of a terror act,” said Hamid.

“If police conducted a séance to probe Dr Dabholkar’s murder, then they mocked the principles he stood for. Mr Gandhi promised us that he will speak to the CM (Prithviraj) Chavan about this issue,” said Hamid.