The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) might call in for questioning Nidhi Tawade, the wife of Virendra Tawade — accused in the murder of rationalist Dr Dabholkar. An eyewitness said that Mrs Tawade had attended right-wing meetings organised by her husband on “protection of the Hindu religion”. Mrs Tawade is currently out of India with her daughter and is not reachable.
Speaking about Tawade’s wife, CBI officials said, “If we find it necessary, we will interrogate her once she comes back. She must have known something about her husband’s activities as she used to accompany him in his work in Sukapur Ashram of Sanatan Sanstha in Panvel.”
Sources said that the CBI would also check Mrs Tawade’s phone details since 2013 and whether she was involved in any unlawful activity along with her husband.
Mrs Tawade, a child specialist, had shifted to Kalptaru Society in Panvel along with her husband in Diwali of 2014. She and her daughter, who is studying in class 8 in DAV School, Panvel, had gone to Mrs Tawade’s sister’s place in London on vacation since April and had not returned despite Tawade’s arrest by the CBI.
Neighbours claimed that Mrs Tawade wanted to separate from her husband and had said so to one of the neighbours. She was on the lookout for a lawyer and had sought guidance from her neighbours, they said. Earlier, she used to help her husband but for the past two years, she had stopped doing so owing to some problems between them.
Sanatan Sanstha’s lawyer Punalekar, however, has refuted charges against Tawade.
The CBI is falsely accusing Tawade, He is a MD surgeon; why would he waste his life by killing Dr Dabholkar or getting involved in any other controversy for that matter. The witness is lying and has contacts with well-known political personalities. Also, the couple is happily married,” he said.
