Ex-Shiv Sena man under lens for Gauri Lankesh murder

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, September 17

Shrikant Pangarkar, a former Shiv Sena corporator from the Jalna Municipal Council in Maharashtra, who was arrested last month along with several members of the Sanatan Sanstha and the Hindu Jangruti Samiti, is wanted by the Karnataka Police for the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh.

According to police sources here, a team from Karnataka’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the murder of Lankesh, is all set to take custody of Pangarkar.

“Pangarkar will be taken to Bengaluru as soon as the police get a transit remand,” a police source said.

Members of the SIT came to Maharashtra on Sunday, officials here said.

According to reports, Pangarkar’s name figured in the diaries of one of the suspects held in connection with the murder of Lankesh.

The SIT had earlier taken custody of Sudhanva Gondhalekar, an associate of Pangarkar.

The former corporator, who according to the Shiv Sena had left the party after being denied nomination for a third term in 2011, became an active member of the Sanstha and the HJS.

He was arrested for allegedly arranging funds for the purchase of arms and ammunition by Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalaskar and Sudhanwa Gondhalekar.

The three were arrested last month after arms and ammunition were recovered from the homes and offices of Raut.

Subsequent interrogation of the accused revealed that Pangarkar was one of the men who rode pillion with Sachin Andure, suspected to have gunned down rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune.