Sameer Gaikwad, arrested in connection with veteran communist leader Govind Pansare murder case, has approached the Bombay high court demanding that his trial should be transferred to Mumbai, Thane, Raigadh, Ratnagiri or Sindhudurg from Kolhapur.
The petition filed through advocate Punalekar Sanjeev came up for hearing before Justice Anil Ramchandra Joshi, who posted the matter on January 14 for further hearing. Gaikwad in his petition has contended that there was tension in Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli-Miraj and Pune due to Pansare’s murder. His lawyer argued that after Gaikwad’s arrest there were some lawyers who were willing to handle his case, but at the same time around 300 lawyers supported Pansare’s family and hence he is apprehending that it is difficult to conduct a fair and impartial trial in Kolhapur.
On the other hand, government pleader Mankunwar Deshmukh opposed the plea made by Gaikwad and said that comrade Pansare was assassinated in Kolhapur and special investigating team was formed to investigate the case and whole investigation is done in Kolhapur. The lawyer also informed the judge that the SIT has filed a chargesheet against the accused on December 14 and there are 77 witnesses in the case. He contended all the witnesses are from Kolhapur and if the matter is transferred outside Kolhapur then it would be difficult for them to testify.
However, he sought time to file a detailed reply and the court adjourned the hearing.
