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Bombay HC grants bail to Sharad Kalaskar in Dabholkar murder case
The Bombay High Court on April 29, 2026 granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar, a convict in the 2013 Narendra Dabholkar murder. The bail was set at ₹50,000, with the prosecution’s request to stay the order refused. Kalaskar had previously secured bail in the Govind Pansare case in October 2025 and faces ongoing related proceedings.
Why It Matters
This decision affects the Dabholkar murder case's legal trajectory and intersects with Kalaskar's concurrent involvement in the Pansare case, highlighting ongoing legal developments around rationalist-related deaths in India.
Timeline
8 Events
Bombay HC grants bail to Sharad Kalaskar in Dabholkar murder case
April 29, 2026
The Bombay High Court granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar on a ₹50,000 surety. The prosecution’s request to stay the order was refused. Kalaskar can walk out after completing bail formalities. The detailed order copy will be available later.
Bail in Govind Pansare murder case
October 2025
Kalaskar was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in the Govind Pansare murder case in October 2025.
Dabholkar murder trial: conviction of Kalaskar and Andure
May 10, 2024
A sessions court convicted Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar for Dabholkar's murder, sentencing them to life in prison, while acquitting them of charges under the Unlawful Activities Act and the Arms Act. The court also acquitted Virendra Singh Tawde, Sanjiv Punalekar, and Vikram Bhave for lack of sufficient evidence.
Gauri Lankesh murder in Bengaluru
September 2017
Journalist Gauri Lankesh was killed in Bengaluru in September 2017.
MM Kalburgi murder in Dharwad
August 2015
Kannada-language scholar MM Kalburgi was killed in Dharwad in August 2015.
Govind Pansare murder in Kolhapur
February 2015
Govind Pansare, a rationalist leader, was killed in Kolhapur in February 2015.
CBI takes over Dabholkar murder probe
2014
Following a petition filed by Dabholkar's daughter Mukta Dabholkar, the investigation was handed over from the local police to the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2014.
Narendra Dabholkar murder in Pune
August 20, 2013
Narendra Dabholkar, founder of the anti-superstition organization, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants while on a morning walk in Pune.