The Bombay High Court has decided to cease its monitoring of the investigation into the 2015 murder of rationalist and author Govind Pansare, declaring it unnecessary to continue oversight under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
On Thursday, a division bench comprising Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata concluded that the Anti-Terrorism Squad’s (ATS) comprehensive report demonstrated the investigation’s thoroughness, with only the apprehension of two absconding suspects remaining. “According to us, only for the purpose of arrest of the absconding accused, continuous monitoring of the further investigation by this court is not necessary,” the bench stated.
The court also addressed a plea from one of the accused challenging the high court’s continued oversight, ultimately dismissing it and directing that any future developments, such as the arrest of the remaining suspects, be reported directly to the trial court.
Govind Pansare and his wife, Uma, were attacked in Kolhapur city on February 15, 2015, during their morning walk. Pansare succumbed to his injuries five days later, sparking a high-profile investigation initially led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Investigation Department (CID), and later transferred to the ATS in 2022.
The High Court had been supervising the probe since 2016, requiring regular progress reports from the investigation agencies. With the main investigative tasks completed, except for the capture of the two fugitives, the court has now redirected its focus towards ensuring a swift trial.
Addressing concerns raised by the victim’s family regarding delays in the judicial process, the court noted that the trial has already begun and is progressing, with 28 witnesses examined as of December 16, 2024. The bench has issued orders for the sessions court in Kolhapur to expedite the proceedings and conduct hearings on a daily basis to facilitate a timely resolution.
