The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar (33), who was convicted in May 2024 of the 2013 murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. Kalaskar had filed an appeal before the high court against his conviction by the trial court in Pune and sought bail till its disposal.
Justices A S Gadkari and R R Bhonsale observed that not only is the likelihood remote for the appeal to be taken up for final hearing any time soon, but the evidence on record is doubtful. The court noted that Kalaskar's identification was improper and had lost its sanctity, and two eyewitnesses' testimony created a doubt. The bail was set at Rs 50,000.
Dabholkar's son, Hamid, stated that an appeal against the grant of bail would be filed in the Supreme Court. He added, "Kalaskar is also an accused in the (communist politician) Govind Pansare murder case." The murderous assault occurred on August 20, 2013, when Dabholkar, a crusader against superstition, was on his morning walk. The high court had reserved the bail plea for orders on December 23, 2025.
Defense and Prosecution Arguments
Kalaskar's senior counsel, Niteen Pradhan, assailed the validity of evidence, including the alleged assailant's identity based on a photograph shown to witnesses, on which the trial court relied. The state, represented by additional public prosecutor Ashish Satpute, and the CBI, represented by special public prosecutor Amit Munde, opposed the bail plea, arguing that two witnesses had seen the shooting.
The court, however, found the prosecution's case weak, emphasizing that the identification process was flawed and the testimonies of eyewitnesses were inconsistent. This led to the conclusion that the evidence presented did not convincingly establish Kalaskar's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at this stage.
Implications and Next Steps
The grant of bail has sparked reactions from both sides. While the defense welcomed the decision, the prosecution and Dabholkar's family expressed disappointment and plan to challenge it in the Supreme Court. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the quality of evidence in high-profile criminal trials in India.
Kalaskar remains an accused in other cases, including the murder of Govind Pansare, ensuring that legal scrutiny of his actions continues. The bail decision underscores the judiciary's commitment to ensuring fair trial rights, even for those convicted of serious crimes, pending appellate review.
