She was witness in Suresh Dube murder case

Interestingly, on June 17, the designated TADA court in Pune framed charges of murder and conspiracy to murder against Bhai Thakur, Bhaskar Thakur, Deepak Thakur, Gajanan Patil and Sanjay Kadam. Bhai Thakur, who has just finished 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under the Arms Act would have been free today had he not been an accused in the Suresh Dube murder case.

Today, the Pune court passed strictures against the police role in aiding Bhai Thakur. Designated TADA Judge M.N. Gilani rejected the discharge application of Ananda Padekar, now a Police Inspector in Navi Mumbai. Padekar, who had allegedly manipulated evidence at the scene of crime, has been chargesheeted under Section 33 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987, for active involvement in terrorist activities.

If convicted on these charges, all six accused face life imprisonment. Padekar was an assistant sub-inspector posted at Palghar when Dube was killed. Rejecting his discharge application on Friday, the judge observed that this is a case of not merely creating a false panchanama, but one of causing disappearance of evidence.

Of the 170 witnesses in the Dube murder case, Navleen was a prime witnesses, and was able to tell the court exactly how Bhai Thakur and his benami firms had grabbed land belonging to the tribals through a reign of terror.

Says Dr Om Prakash Dube, elder brother of builder Suresh Dube: ‘‘Her killers knew that a bullet would have easily killed her, yet she was brutally stabbed 19 times. When you see a person being murdered in such a manner, you think twice before becoming a witness in case that would decide the fate of one of the most influential persons in Vasai.’’