In a joint operation, the CBI, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the local police conducted a raid on Tuesday, 21 August, in Aurangabad in connection with the Narendra Dabholkar murder case, detaining three people and recovering a country-made pistol, similar to the one used in the killing of the rationalist in 2013.
A khukri (knife), three live rounds and a 7.65-bore pistol were recovered on the basis of leads given by Sachin Prakasrao Andure, who was arrested recently by the Central Bureau of Investigation, reported PTI.
The agency will send the pistol for ballistic examination to ascertain whether it was used in the killing of Dabholkar, the officials said. The three people who have been detained will be taken to Pune, reported ANI.
The recovery was reportedly made from a friend of a relative of Andure.
Andure, a resident of Aurangabad, was arrested on 18 August.
He is believed to be one of the shooters who fired upon Dabholkar in Pune on 20 August 2013 in broad daylight, officials said.
The shot killed Dabholkar, who had been running a campaign against superstition.
The arrest was made on a tip-off from the Maharashtra ATS after it had arrested three people in connection with a separate case of arms recovery.
It has been learnt that Andure gave the weapons to his acquaintances after the arrest of Vaibhav Raut. Raut was arrested along with one Sharad Kalaskar and Sudhanwa Gondhalekhar by the ATS on 10 August for allegedly planning disruptive activities in Maharashtra.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)
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