Dabholkar murder case: Tawde refuses to reveal who's behind emails

BENGALURU: Virendra Tawde, the ENT surgeon from Panvel in Navi Mumbai, who was arrested last week by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the 2013 murder of Pune-based rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, has reportedly refused to tell the CBI on who was behind the email, which was allegedly sent to him to keep an eye on the ‘rationalist’ (Dabholkar) a couple of months before he was murdered.

“He is talking, but is silent on core issues. He has refused to tell who was behind the email,” said an official source. According to sources, the email had used code words like ‘sahitya,’ ‘devil’ and ‘chocolate’ among other words to convey the assassination plot.

“Tawde didn’t reply to the email, but reportedly worked on it. He is silent on the conspiracy and assassination plot,” said the officer. Tawde is in judicial custody now and the Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) from Kolhapur has got his custody now. They are investigating the murder of Leftist leader Govind Pansare in February last year.

The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the sensational murder of noted writer Dr M.M. Kalburgi on August 30, 2015 in Dharwad, is hoping that they would get his custody next. “Since there are striking similarities in all the three murders, Tawde’s interrogation will throw up vital information in the cases, but the CID may have to wait,” said an official source.