Member of the right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha, Sameer Gaikwad has been arrested from Maharashtra’s Sangli region in connection with the murder of veteran communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare.
Gaikwad in his early 30’s was arrested after his call history was monitored.
He was produced in a Kolhapur court and is being remanded in police custody till September 23.
Not only Sameer, but also his entire family is associated with Sanatan.
— Sanjay Kumar Verma, Inspector General of Police
Verma, who also heads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Pansare’s case, said that Gaikwad has been an active part of Sanatan Sanstha since 1998.
Sanatan spokesperson, Sandip Shinde, said that the Gaikwad has been falsely implicated.
Sanatan came in news after a chargesheet was registered against six of its members in connection with the 2007 blasts in Panvel, Thane and Vashi in Maharashtra.
Pansare, who led a campaign against road toll tax, and his wife Uma Pansare were shot in front of their house in Ideal Housing Society, Kolhapur as they were returning from their daily morning walk on February 16, 2015.
He succumbed to his injuries on February 20 at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital.
While Pansare was hit by bullets on the nape of his neck, his wife Sau Uma Pansare suffered a single bullet injury, Kolhapur Superintendent of Police, Om Prakash Sharma had said in February.
(With inputs from PTI)