PUNE: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday told a magisterial court in Pune that the firearms used in the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar may be among the four country-made pistols dismantled and thrown into a water body near Greater Mumbai and the adjoining area on July 23 this year by Sharad Kalaskar, one of the alleged shooters.“This was in pursuance of a conspiracy to destroy the firearms used in the crimes which are interconnected and investigated by CBI, State police agencies,” the central probe agency stated in a remand report submitted to judicial magistrate first class S M A Sayyed for extension of Kalaskar’s custody.“The arrest of a number of accused in one such case, whose incriminating role have also figured in Narendra Dabholkar case, was one of the reasons for such a decision to destroy the firearms,” the report added. The court allowed the CBI’s plea by extending his custody till September 17.The remand report, submitted by CBI’s counsel Vijaykumar Dhakane, stated that Kalaskar hassofar not been able to identify the bridge from where he threw the firearms into a river after dismantling them by taking out the barrels and sliders containing the firing pins.The CBI team has taken Kalaskar to various places and bridges including the Kalwa bridge at Thane creek, Bhayander bridge at Vasai creek and a bridge at Kalyan creek but he could not identify the place as it was night when he threw the four dismantled firearms, the report stated.“Also, he is not thoroughly familiar with the locations of Greater Mumbai and adjoining area and, hence, is finding it difficult to name the place where he disposed of barrels/sliders," the report added. “The CBI is trying to find out the exact place and recover the firearms used in the murder of Dabholkar,” the report stated.Kalaskar’s custody was further required for establishing the identity of an unknown person already present on the scene of crime and identified Dabholkar for the benefit of Kalaskar and the other shooter, Sachin Andure, to execute the murder around 7.20am on August 20, 2013 near Omkareshwar temple while Dabholkar was on his morning walk.“During the reconstruction of the scene of crime done in the presence of two independent witnesses, it has come to the notice that there was some person near the scene of the crime, who identified Dabholkar to both shooters and only thereafter, Sharad Kalaskar and Sachin Andure, ran behind Dabholkar and shot him dead ,” the report stated.“Investigation has revealed that the shooters had not seen Dabholkar in person but had seen photographs/videos of Dabholkar who was a social activist and his activities were covered in the media including Dainik Sanatan Prabhat (a newspaper by Sanatan Sanstha),” the report added.“Sharad Kalaskar had seen the person who identified Dabholkar on the day of the murder and his custody may help in identifying that person,” the report stated.Kalaskar’s lawyer Dharmraj Chandel argued that in seeking further extension of custodial remand, the CBI has merely expressed a suspicion that Kalaskar may have dismantled the firearms. He argued that this cannot be an apt ground for granting extension of custody as the CBI had 11 days’ custody to interrogate the accused.Chandel argued that the accused had given all incriminating information to the CBI and there is well founded apprehension that the agency may abuse the remand by allowing other probe agencies to interrogate Kalaskar, as was the case with other accused Andure and Amol Kale. The court has sought the CBI’s written statement on Kale’s complaint that he was assaulted by an officer from Kolhapur SIT while in CBI’s custody on September 8.

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