PUNE: Both men arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar were carrying pistols during the crime, an official with the agency has revealed.The official said that while hitherto the CBI believed that only one pistol was used in the murder, the interrogation of Sharad Kalaskar revealed that he too had fired at Dabholkar along with Sachin Andure on the bridge near Balgandharva Rangmandir on August 20, 2013.The official said their investigations have revealed that Kalaskar had fired three rounds at Dabholkar, of which one round misfired. Andure had also fired one round at the rationalist, he said.As per the postmortem report of the Sassoon hospital, “There were three bullet injuries — two on the chest and one on the forehead. One of the bullets went through his (Dabholkar’s) chest and got lodged in the right side of the neck. Another bullet fired on the temple above the right eye was found in the skull.”The CBI had secured the custody of Kalaskar, who was arrested in the Nalasopara arms haul, from the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on September 3. The CBI took him into custody after the ATS had said that Kalaskar had admitted to being the second shooter, along with Andure, in the Dabholkar case.Andure was earlier arrested by the CBI and a pistol, rounds and incriminating documents were recovered from his relative in Aurangabad. The ballistic report of the pistol from the forensic science laboratory is awaited.On Monday, the court of judicial magistrate first class S M A Sayyed extended Kalaskar’s custodial remand with the CBI till September 15. The court, however, refused to extend the CBI custody of alleged firearms trainer Rajesh Deranna Bangera and one of the conspirators, Amit Ramchandra Digwekar, on the grounds that there was no progress in the investigations even though they were in CBI custody for 10 days since September 1.Bangera and Digwekar were earlier arrested by the Karnataka special investigation team (SIT) in the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh. The CBI had later secured their custody from the Bengaluru jail after investigations had revealed their involvement in Dabholkar’s murder.Earlier, additional superintendent of police S R Singh produced the Kalaskar, Bangera and Digwekar before the court to seek an extension of their custodial remand.On the progress in the investigations, CBI special public prosecutor Vijaykumar Dhakane told the court that after killing Dabholkar, Andure sped off on a black motorcycle with Kalaskar as pillion. On September 8, the CBI took Kalaskar to the murder spot and reconstructed the crime scene.Dhakane prayed for Kalaskar’s custodial remand to be extended to recover the motorcycle and the firearms used by him and Andure. He said the CBI was coordinating with the other investigating agencies like the ATS and Karnataka SIT in this regard.Dhakane submitted to the court, “Bangera had given firearms training, arranged by conspirators Virendrasinh Tawde and Amol Kale, to the followers of Sanatan Sanstha/Hindu Janajagruti Samiti/sister organisations at various places like Sampaje for three members in 2012-13; at Bengaluru for three members in which Tawde was also present in 2012-13; at Hubli for four members in 2013-14; at Kolhapur for four members including Kale in 2013-14; at Hebbettageri for four members in 2014-15 at B C Road (Dakshin Kannada district) for seven members in 2015; and, at Pune for six or seven members in 2016.”Dhakane argued that Bangera’s custodial interrogation was essential for obtaining more details of the firearms training, for tracing the source of the firearms and the whereabouts of the weapons.On Digwekar’s custody, he argued that his custodial interrogation was essential for ascertaining the involvement of other conspirators in Dabholkar’s murder. Dhakane said Digwekar is a close associate of Tawde and Kale.Opposing the prosecution’s plea, defence lawyer Dharmraj Chandel prayed for the three suspects to be remanded in magisterial custody since the court had given sufficient opportunity to the CBI to interrogate them. He said the suspects had cooperated with the investigation officer and their further detention with the CBI was not essential.Chandel argued that there was no incriminating evidence against Bangera even though he was connected with a “spiritual organisation” and other accused. He said Bangera had no connection with the Dabholkar murder and that the CBI report does not show progress in investigations.Chandel feared that if the custodial remand of the suspects was extended, other investigating agencies would take this as an opportunity to also interrogate them. He cited complaints of ill-treatment filed by Andure and Bangera.

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