The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which had filed its second chargesheet in the Gauri Lankesh murder case on Friday, said that the “criminal syndicate” behind the murder of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh was influenced by a book published by the Goa-based right-wing Hindutva organisation, Sanatan Sanstha. The criminal syndicate itself was allegedly funded by a former editor of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’, the mouthpiece of the organisation.
The SIT issued a seven-page press note on Saturday night, detailing the investigation so far, its findings, and a timeline of the murder conspiracy. “The investigation so far has revealed that all the 18 accused are active members of an organised crime syndicate. This syndicate was formed in 2010-11, under the leadership of Virendra Tawade alias Bade Bhaisaab. One former editor of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ provided financial support to this syndicate. The members of this organisation targeted people who they identified to be inimical to their belief and ideology. The members strictly followed the guidelines and principles mentioned in ‘Kshatra Dharma Sadhana’, a book published by Sanatan Sanstha,” the statement said.
After the arrest of Tawade in 2016 by the CBI, for his involvement in the murder of Narendra Dhabolkar, the leadership was taken over by Amol Kale, the prime accused in the Gauri case, the statement said. “Other important members of this syndicate are Amit Degvekar, Vikas Patil and Rishikesh Deodikar. Vikas Patil had recruited Sujith Kumar alias Praveen and Manohar Edave in order to carry out the recruitment of members in Karnataka. Sujith Kumar eventually recruited Parshuram Waghmore, the shooter, K.T. Naveen Kumar and several others. Manohar Edave recruited Ganesh Miskin and Amit Baddi,” the press statement said. Of these, Vikas Patil and Deodikar are at large.
“While recruiting new members to the syndicate, emphasis was given to identify and recruit those persons with a history of aggression and violence and especially those with a criminal background. The members of the organised crime syndicate met, conspired and trained at various places in Karnataka and Maharashtra. They were indoctrinated and actively underwent arms training, shooting practice and were trained in the manufacture and use of bombs with the intention of promoting insurgency and creating fear in society,” the statement said.
Gauri a ‘durjan’
Detailing the conspiracy to kill Gauri, the SIT statement said: “In August 2016, in a meeting of the syndicate, the main members identified Ms. Lankesh as a “durjan” as told in the ‘Kshatra Dharma Sadhana’, based on her speeches and writings. They jointly hatched a conspiracy to murder her.”
The bike used for the hit was stolen from Davangere in October 2016 and a detailed recce of Gauri Lankesh’s movements were conducted from March to May 2017. In June that year, several members of the syndicate were trained by Rajesh Bangera at the farmhouse of Bharat Kurne near Chikale village, Belagavi, SIT said.
Parashuram Waghmore, the alleged shooter and Ganesh Miskin, the biker were again taken to an isolated hilly region near Kinaye in Belagavi, where they practices shooting with Bharat Kurne and Sharad Kalaskar. The hit team came to Bengaluru in September 2017, first attempt was made on September 4 which failed and the hit team succeeded in killing Gauri Lankesh on September 5, 2017. “Ten days later, as per the directions of Amol Kale, Sudhanva Gondalekar and Amit Baddi came to Bengaluru and took back the bag containing the pistols and rounds and the Passion Pro bike used for the offence. Both were handed over to Sharad Kalaskar in Belagavi separately,” the statement said.