Govind Pansare murder: Chargesheet filed against right-wing activist

Kolhapur: Police on Monday filed a charge sheet in a local court against Sameer Gaikwad, an activist of right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha, arrested in connection with the murder of Communist leader Govind Pansare.

Gaikwad, who was arrested on September 16 in connection with the murder of Pansare, is in judicial custody till December 18.

The 392-page charge sheet, filed by police before judicial magistrate R D Dange, mentions a list of 77 witnesses.

Pansare, a veteran CPI leader, and his wife were shot by two unidentified motorcycle-borne persons in Kolhapur in February this year. While his wife survived, Pansare later died in a Mumbai hospital.

He was one of the leaders who spearheaded the anti-toll movement in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, veteran Leftist leader ND Patil and Pansare's daughter-in-law Medha Pansare today met Kolhapur's new DSP Pradeep Deshpande in connection with the case.