New Delhi: After a decade-long legal battle, a Special Court in Pune finally reached a verdict in the murder case of renowned rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. The court sentenced two men to life imprisonment, while three others, including the key accused Virendrasinh Tawde, were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar were convicted of murder and conspiracy charges. They were sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh each. However, Virendrasinh Tawde, ENT surgeon, along with Sanjeev Punalekar and Vikram Bhave, were acquitted.

Narendra Dabholkar's son, Hamid, and daughter, Mukta, attended the hearing. Expressing her thoughts, Mukta said, "This is an important judgment. We will approach the High Court against the acquittal of the three accused. They were also involved in three similar cases, so this verdict is crucial not just for us but also for other families who lost their loved ones. I have full faith in the law."

Prakash Salshingekar, the lawyer representing Dabholkar's family, stated, "This is a rare case. We will challenge the court's decision regarding the acquittal of the three accused in the High Court once we receive the detailed verdict. Virendrasinh Tawde, who was alleged to be the mastermind behind the murder, was acquitted due to a lack of evidence."

Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead in Pune in 2013 while he was out for a morning walk. Initially, Pune police investigated the case, but in 2014, following a Bombay High Court order, the CBI took over the probe. The CBI arrested Virendrasinh Tawde, associated with the Hindu right-wing organization Sanatan Sanstha, in June 2016. However, the prosecution failed to prove Tawde's involvement as one of the masterminds of the murder.

Responding to the verdict, the Sanatan Sanstha, in a series of posts on social media, stated, "The truth prevails. Virendrasingh Tawde, a renowned surgeon, Sanjiv Punalekar, a well-known lawyer, and Vikram Bhave, a social activist, were unjustly incarcerated without evidence. But justice has finally been served, and they are now free."

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