Goa bomb blast : Sequence of events which ends at acquittal of seekers of Sanatan Sanstha

From left : Acquitted seekers Shri. Dhananjay Ashtekar, Shri. Dilip Mangaonkar,
Shri. Vinay Talekar, Shri. Vinayak Patil, Shri. Prashant Ashtekar, Shri. Prashant Juvekar

Given below is sequence of judicial process and inquiry of seekers and Sanatan Sanstha conducted in connection with Margao bomb blast

16.10.2009

  • Police surrounded ashram at 11.45 p.m. They conducted inquiry from 11.45 p.m. to 2.30 a.m. Ashram searched and material used regularly confiscated.
  • 2 seekers staying in ashram were taken into custody at 2.30 a.m.
  • Police on guarded till next day morning. Seekers prohibited from leaving ashram without police permission
  • State Home Minister of Goa, Ravi Naik openly declared about Sanatan Sanstha’s involvement in Margao bomb blast
  • At 2.45 a.m., police conducted inquiry of Sanatan’s ashram at Miraj. They also brought dog squad and staff for defusing bomb. They didn’t find any objectionable matter.

17.10.2009

  • Squad conducted search in ashram without search warrant from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. using dogs and squad for defusing bombs; few things were confiscated. Police didn’t get any objectionable matter.
  • Shri. Veerendra Marathe, Management Trustee of Sanatan Sanstha taken to Margao police station at 12.30 p.m. for inquiry. At 4.00 p.m., Shri. Pruthviraj Hazare, the then Editor of ‘Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’ (now Pujya Pruthviraj Hazare) was taken to Margao police station.
  • Police guarded entrance of Sanatan ashram for all 24 hours for the next 8 days.

18.10.2009

  • Police conducted search of Ramnathi ashram without search warrant. Police did not do ‘Panchnama’ and carried hard disc without hash value.
  • Rigorous inquiry conducted of  Shri. Veerendra Marathe, Management Trustee of Sanatan Sanstha, Shri. Pruthviraj Hazare, the then Editor of Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’ (now, Pujya Pruthviraj Hazare) and two seekers by anti-Terrorist Squad, Central Investigation machinery, Crime Investigation Branch of Goa and Crime Investigation Branch of Karnataka at Margao police station from 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. Police used to beat them up; threaten to conduct inquiry by hanging upside down; such inquiry was conducted for 4 days.
  • Rigorous inquiry of  Sanatan’s printing press at Nesai, video-recording also done.

20.10.2009

  • Inquiry at Sanatan’s ashram by anti-terrorist squad (ATS)

21.10.2009

  • Anti-terrorist squad conducted inquiry of Managing Trustee and Editor
  • Inquiry of seekers from Ramnathi ashram conducted by Crime Investigation Branch of Karnataka
  • Goa police confiscate few books without ‘Panchanama’
  • Search of Margao bomb blast handed over to special investigating machinery of Goa police

22 and 23.10.2009

  • Special investigating team conduct thorough search of every room, cupboard, rack in ashram. Computer-experts checked matter from computers. Search of seekers’ personal belongings, bags etc. carried out. On both the days, police searched ashram for 11 hours by forming groups of 6 members.
  • Papers related to Trust, 3 years issues of Sanatan Prabhat confiscated by police along with 4 hard discs
  • Police guarded entrance of Ramnathi ashram all 24 hours
  • From 24th October for next two months, few seekers were called at Margao police station occasionally and inquiry used to be conducted for 4 hours. During this inquiry, other accused were made to stand in front of seekers.

1.1.2010

  • Case transferred to National Investigating Agency (NIA)

12.3.2010

  • NIA conducted inquiry of Sanatan Bharateeya Sankruti Sanstha’s printing press at Nesai, Margao

9.4.2010

  • Detailed inquiry conducted of Shri. Abhay Vartak, the then spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha at Panvel by 7 officers

10.4.2010 and 11.4.2010

  • Detailed inquiry and search of every room and cupboard at Ramnathi ashram from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. carried out; computer experts verified matters from ashram computers, seekers personal belongings, bags etc.

23.4.2010

  • On 22nd and 23rd April, NIA officers conducted inquiry of seekers from ashram

17.5.2010

  • NIA filed charge sheet in Margao bomb blast case, Sanatan’s innocence proved

20.5.2010

  • South Goa District Court granted permission to NIA for further investigations in Margao bomb blast case

8.6.2010

  • Shri. Prashant Ashtekar attended District Sessions Court on his own; Sessions Judge granted 8 days police custody to him.

18.6.2010

  • Argument in Court took place before accusations were proved. Judge Bakre gave clear instruction to Government pleader S. B. Faria to submit proofs against the suspects who got killed in Margao blast;  so also other 9 accused about their involvement in Margao and Sankwal. Judge Bakre warned advocate Faria that such serious cases should not be handled by just admission or by taking down statements of the accused.

31.7.2010

  • Prashant Juvekar arrested by Maharashtra anti-terrorist squad at Bhusaval railway station.

27.8.2010

  • Charges against Shri. Vinay Talekar, Shri. Vinayak Patil, Shri. Dhananjay Ashtekar and Shri. Dilip Mangaonkar were determined by Sessions Court.

24.9.2010

  • Superintendent Vijayan, senior officer with NIA, who was conducting investigations of the case, gave up his assignment and re-joined police department at Kerala. ‘Dainik Goa Doot’ published news about his leaving the assignment due to pressurization and interference by Central Home Ministry due to which impartial inquiry could not be conducted.

25.6.2011

  • Hearing started with Chief Judge Nutan Prabhudesai of District and Sessions Court and after few months, Judge Anuja Prabhudesai was appointed as Chief Judge of District and Sessions Court, Panaji before whom, the hearing continued.

18.4.2013

  • Central Government set up special court by passing an Ordinance. Cases came up for hearing before Shri. P. V. Savaikar, Special Judge. The final argument went on continuously for 6 days from 28th November to 5th December.

24.12.2013

  • Passing of verdict postponed

31.12.2013

  • Verdict passed. Sanatan seekers Shri. Vinay Talekar, Shri. Vinayak Patil, Shri. Dhananjay Ashtekar, Shri. Dilip Mangaonkar and Shri. Prashnat Juvekar acquitted as innocent.
  • 122 witnesses were examined by prosecution and the defense party presented only 1 witness. Special advocate, S. B. Faria fought case for NIA and advocate, Sanjeev Punalekar and advocate Shri. Ameya Prabhudesai pleaded the case for accused.

Source: Dainik Sanatan Prabhat