‘Govt is harassing Sanstha members’

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: Right-wing Hindu organization Sanatan Sanstha’s spokesperson Abhay Vartak on Wednesday branded the central government as a thief.“ The Centre is using several tactics to ban the organization,” he alleged. Vartak also claimed that lakhs of Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) agents are living in the country.

Vartak was reacting to the National Investigation Agency (NIA)’s raid on the Sanstha’s headquarters and some residential quarters in north Goa’s Ponda on Tuesday. The Sanstha’s nearly dozen members have been chargesheeted for carrying out blasts in Goa and several other parts of Maharashtra over the last few years.

“The Sanstha is a religious organization but the Congress wants to ban it. Though they can’t ban it, they are harassing our advertisers and donors. Our well-wishers are receiving phone calls from the police asking them not to raise funds for the outfit,” Vartak alleged. He admitted that the two persons, Hanumant Gadkari and Vikaram Bhave, convicted for the Thane and Vashi blasts recently, were the Sanstha’s workers.

“Last night around a hundred police personnel entered the Sanstha’s headquarters and did not even remove their shoes until they were asked to do so. Our sevaks are forced to leave the outfit and are being threatened with arrest. Ours is not a terrorist outfit,” he said.


The Times of India, October 4, 2011

ATS will appeal in blasts case

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) will appeal against the acquittal of four suspected Sanatan Sanstha members who were let off by a sessions court in connection with the Thane and Vashi bomb blast cases.

The ATS had in 2008 arrested six members of right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha for carrying out bomb blasts at a Thane theatre and Vashi. While two of them, Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave, were convicted, four others were recently acquitted.

“The procedure to appeal in the case has begun. We are going through all the papers and will file the appeal against their acquittal within the stipulated time,” said ATS chief Rakesh Maria.


The Times of India, September 20, 2011

‘State move to ban Hindu group is malicious’

Mahima Sikand TNN

Mumbai: After two of its members were convicted in the Thane blast case, right wing group Sanatan Sanstha termed the state’s proposal to ban it a “malicious conspiracy”.

The organization’s spokesperson, Abhay Vartak, said the ban was part of the Congress’ strategy to malign pro-Hindu groups and divert attention of the public from issues of corruption and mis-governance. Varatk told reporters that there was no mention of the organization in the recent judgment passed by the trial court in the Thane blast case and its name was also not stated as an accused in the charge-sheet filed by the ATS. He asked, “The judge did not even label the convicted men as terrorists. So how can the government, by some extrapolation, declare us a terrorist outfit?”

Condemning the blasts, Vartak said the organization had not lent any financial, legal or ideological support to the two men. However, he said, the acts were a “reaction to the frustration felt by the majority community in India”. “The government was quick to ban Satanic Verses as that offended Muslims. But despite our repeated requests to ban offensive material like J o d h a A k b a r and A m i P a c h p u t e, the government turns a deaf ear towards us. Why are we oppressed in our own country?”

He added they would take the case to the judiciary if the government imposed a ban.

The Times of India, September 14, 2011

10-yr jail term for 2 Thane blast convicts

Rebecca Samervel TNN

Mumbai: A sessions court on Tuesday sentenced two members of a right-wing Hindu group to 10 years imprisonment and fined Rs 9,500 for planting explosives in Thane and Vashi in 2008.

A day earlier, the court convicted the two, Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave, of plotting and executing bomb attacks under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Explosives Substances Act, Explosives Act and Destruction to Property Act. They were, however, acquitted of terror charges that would have been tried under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Judge N V Nhavkar said, “Looking at the circumstantial evidence, the accused present on the spots, their possessions and their behaviour during the relevant period, Gadkari and Bhave are held responsible for blasts at Vishnu Bhave auditorium in Vashi and Rangayatan theatre in Thane.”

The court sentenced the duo to 10 years imprisonment for each of sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Explosives Substances Act. They were also awarded three years under Section 324 of IPC (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), a year under Section 201 (destruction of evidence), three years under 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50) and 1-year simple imprisonment and 1-year rigorous imprisonment for each of sections 3 and 4 of Damage to Public Properties Act. Under the Explosives Act, they were sentenced to a year. All sentences will run concurrently and as they have already spent three years and two-and-a-half months in jail, the period will be adjusted.

Bhave’s wife broke down on hearing the sentence. Hoping that they would be set free after three years in jail, Bhave said, “I expected that the court would take into consideration that we have already spent three years in jail. I am praying that all goes well.” The prosecution and the defence will file appeals in the Bombay high court.

Before the quantum of punishment was pronounced, both sides presented their arguments. Seeking a lesser punishment, defence lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar said the duo did not have any criminal antecedents. “Gadkari and Bhave hail from educated middle-class families. For three years, they and their families have suffered the stigma of being terrorists,” he said. Implying that they had responsibilities, he said Gadkari had three daughters, the youngest among whom is yet to be
married. Bhave, being a single child, has to look after his aged parents; he also has a threeyear-old daughter. “The court has held they are not terrorists,” he added.

But special public prosecutor Rohini Salian opposed the plea, saying such acts were conducted “with a futile sentiment and caused disruptions in our daily lives”. Calling the two “terrorists and extremists”, she said, “I pray for deterrent punishment.”

After hearing the arguments, the court said the sentence should act as a deterrent for criminals plotting and executing such acts. “Looking at the aggravating factors and the injuries inflicted on eight persons, relief cannot be offered to the accused,” the court said.

The Times of India, August 31, 2011

Two convicted for Thane blast

IN A FLASH: Though of low intensity, the crude bomb that went off at Gadkari Rangayatan in 2008 injured seven people and brought down the false ceiling

JUDGMENT DAY

Trial Court Finds Members Of A Hindu Group Guilty Of Executing Bomb Attack But Not Terrorism

Rebecca Samervel | TNN

Asessions court convicted two members of Hindu right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha on Monday for plotting and executing bomb attacks in Thane and Vashi three years ago, which injured seven people. Four others were acquitted for lack of evidence.

Judge N V Nhavkar found guilty Ramesh Gadkari (53) and Vikram Bhave (29) under IPC sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 427 (mischief causing damage to property) and under various sections of the Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act as well as Destruction to Property Act. The two were, however, cleared of graver terror charges. The quantum of punishment for the duo will be decided on Tuesday after the prosecution and defence have presented their arguments.

Outside the court, Bhave said, “We are spiritual people. Whatever I am facing must be because of some bad deeds in my past life. I take the judgment as the will of God.” According to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gadkari and Bhave masterminded the attacks in 2008 on an auditorium each in Thane and Vashi and on a movie theatre in Panvel. They were, the ATS alleged, aided in the conspiracy by Mangesh Nikam, Santosh Angre, Hemant Chalke and Hari Bhau Divekar, though the court on Monday cleared these four of all charges.

The first attack was on Cineraj Theatre in Panvel, where a crude bomb went off on February 20, 2008, while it was screening the film Jodhaa Akbar. No one was injured in the blast. The next attack came on May 31, 2008, on Vashi’s Vishnudas Bhave auditorium, which was staging the Marathi play Amhi Pachpute. The crude bomb was detected in time and neutralized. Sanatan Sanstha had protested the play, claiming that it portrayed Hindu gods in poor light.

Five days later, a crude bomb exploded in the parking lot of Gadkari Rangayatan, an auditorium in Thane, minutes before the same play, Amhi Pachpute, was to be staged there. Seven people were injured in the explosion.

In September of that year, the ATS filed a 1,025-page chargesheet against the six accused, all of whom are Sanatan Sanstha sevaks. According to the chargesheet, Gadkari, who lived in the sanstha’s Panvel ashram, had funded the operations with his savings. Also, it said, Gadkari, Bhave and Nikam were trained in making bombs.

“The connection of the accused to the Panvel blast could not be proved. Even the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was rejected by the court, which said that they were not terrorists,” said defence lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar. “The court said the accused had allegedly bombed various places only to threaten the producer and not with the intention to kill anybody.”

The defence explained that three eyewitnesses had testified to the presence of Gadkari and Bhave in the vicinity of the auditoriums in Thane and Vashi. “Certain articles they had purchased were also found in the explosives,” Punalekar said.

An ATS officer called the verdict “disappointing”. Special public prosecutor Rohini Salian said an appeal would be filed in the high court. “The evidence was circumstantial. Our main thrust was on the stringent UAPA and we wanted to prove that the bombs were planted with the intent to create terror in the minds of people,” Salian said. On Tuesday, the defence will file a plea on behalf of Gadkari and Bhave under the Probation of Offenders Act since their charges do not attract a life term. Under this act, the two can be released on a bond of assurance of good conduct and other conditions.

CASE FILE

The Acquitted
MANGESH NIKAM | 37
The chargesheet alleged that Nikam, a resident of Satara, was present when the bombs were built. He too has a house in Warsai village in Pen

SANTOSH ANGRE | 29
He was arrested from the Sanatan Sanstha ashram in Panvel, where he then resided

HARI BHAU DIVEKAR | 47
A police patil from Ratnagiri and a Sanatan Santha sevak, he got bail 10 months after his arrest. Divekar, investigators alleged, helped hide the explosives and destroy the evidence

HEMANT CHALKE | 40
He is a homeopath from Pen and a Sanatan Santha sevak

The Charges
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act | Sections 16, 18 and 23 (related to terrorist activities like waging war against the country)
Indian Penal Code | Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (mischief causing damage), 201 (removing evidence) and 120B (criminal conspiracy)
Arms Act | Section 325 (possession of arms)
Explosives Act | Sections 6 and 9B (manufacture, possession and importation of explosives)
Explosive Substances Act |
Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 (possession and use of explosives)

Convictions
Gadkari and Bhave were found guilty under sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means); 201, 427 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code; section 9(b) of the Explosives Act; sections 3, 4, 5 of the Explosive Substances Act; and sections 3 and 4 of the Destruction to Property Act

Maximum Punishment
Most of the charges Gadkari and Bhave have been found guilty of carry a maximum sentence of three years. Two charges, though, invite 10 years’ imprisonment

THE ATTACKS
JUNE 4, 2008 | A bomb exploded in the parking lot at Gadkari Rangayatan, a landmark auditorium near Masunda lake in Thane, minutes before the Marathi play ‘Amhi Pachpute’ was to be staged there. Seven people were injured in the explosion, which, though of low intensity, brought the false ceiling down

MAY 31, 2008 | A crude bomb was discovered in time at Vashi’s Vishnudas Bhave auditorium, which was staging ‘Amhi Pachpute’. Packed in a bag, the explosive was taken to a secluded space outside the hall and detonated by the bomb disposal squad. The bag also contained batteries, gelatin sticks, a detonator and some white powder

FEB 20, 2008 | A crude bomb went off at Panvel’s Cineraj Theatre when the hall was screening ‘Jodhaa Akbar’. No one was injured in the blast and investigators said it was engineered to create panic

The Convicted

RAMESH GADKARI | 53
An electrical engineer by training, he sold his electrical shop to become a fulltime sevak at Sanatan Sanstha’s ashram in Panvel. He was arrested from the ashram on June 16, 2008. The ATS says Gadkari funded the attacks with his savings.

VIKRAM BHAVE | 29
He assisted in his father’s business in Warsai village, Pen. Another Sanatan Sanstha sevak, Bhave was arrested a day after Gadkari from Wadala. The bombs were allegedly manufactured at his home. The ATS says Bhave and Gadkari masterminded the operations and built the explosives

OUTFIT FEELS VINDICATED

Sanatan Sanstha lauds judgment

Nitin Yeshwantrao | TNN

Thane: Sanatan Sanstha on Monday welcomed the verdict in the Thane and Vashi bomb attacks case, saying it reinforces their stand that the “Hindu revivalist organization was in no way connected with the blasts” and that the accused had planned the operation independently.

“We had assisted the police in the investigations into these attacks. The Sanstha does not endorse violence and our stand was proved the day the police filed the chargesheet. The Sanstha was never mentioned in the chargesheet. All those arrested were members of the Sanstha but they acted independently,” said Abhay Vartak, the Sanstha’s spokesperson.

Sanatan Sanstha was set up in 1990 by Dr Jayant Balaji Athavale and is said to “teach spirituality using scientific approach”. The organization was suspected of involvement in the 2008 bomb attacks on Vishnudas Bhave auditorium and Gadkari Rangayatan after the Anti-Terrorism Squad, led by its then chief Hemant Karkare, arrested six people associated with the group in the case. The Sanstha, however, distanced itself from the acts of the accused and claimed that it was aiding the police in the investigations.

The Sanstha again came under the scanner when a few of its members were accused of being involved in a blast at Margoa in 2009.

“As a matter of fact, the Sanstha was absolved of all allegations levelled in 2009 when the ATS drafted the charges against the accused in the Vashi and Thane case. We stayed away from the legal proceedings since those arrested had not acted in accordance with our teachings and were independent actors. We welcome the judgment and our faith in the judiciary has been restored,” Vartak said.

The Times of India, August 30, 2011

Thane blast trial to get over in 2 weeks

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The trial in the Thane theatre blast and auditoriums in Vashi and Panvel may get over in the next two weeks. The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) had arrested six persons—Ramesh Gadkari (50), Mangesh Nikam (34), Santosh Angre (26), Dr Hemant Chalke, Vikram Bhave (26) and police patil Hari Divekar—in connection with the blasts. The court has examined 80 witnesses in the case.

On June 4, 2008, a bomb had exploded in the parking lot of Gadkari Rangayatan theatre in Thane, injuring seven persons. A play, Amhi Pachpute, was to be staged there. Sanatan Sanstha, a Hindu revivalist group, had protested against the play, saying it portrayed gods and goddesses in poor light. On May 31, 2008, a bomb had exploded at Vishnu Bhave Auditorium in Vashi. On February 20, 2008, a bomb was planted at Cineraj cinema hall in Panvel. “We have filed a 1,925-page charge sheet against the six suspects. Most of the witnesses have deposed before the court. We are hoping that the trial would be over soon,” said an officer who was part of the investigation.

Two of the six accused were sevaks of Sanatan Sanstha, a sister organization of Hindu Janjagran Samiti. The ATS had claimed to have recovered six batteries, one timer and half-a-dozen detonators from near Nikam’s house. According to the ATS, Gadkari, Bhave and Nikam knew how to make bombs and were present when the bombs were being manufactured.


TERROR TRAIL

• June 4, 2008: A bomb explodes in the parking lot of Thane’s Gadkari Rangayatan theatre, injuring seven. A play, A m h i P a c h p u t e, was to be staged there

• May 31, 2008: A blast takes place at Vishnu Bhave Auditorium in Vashi

• February 20, 2008: A bomb is planted at Cineraj cinema hall in Panvel

The Times of India, December 21, 2010

ATS nabs Goa blast suspect in Maharashtra

Mateen Hafeez

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on July 31 arrested rightwing outfit Sanatan Sanstha's member, Prashant Juvekar (24), for his alleged role in the last year's Goa blast. Juvekar was caught soon after he got down from a train at Bhusawal junction in Maharashtra.

A bomb went off while being taken from one place to another at Madgaon in Goa and killed two members of Sanatan Sanstha on October 16, 2009.

ATS chief Rakesh Maria said Ratnagiri resident Juevekar had taken part in terror training. ``He learnt bomb making and handling gelatine sticks, timers and batteris in a training camp in Goa between August 23 and August 25 last year. He is a full time parcharak of Sanatan Sanstha,'' said Maria. According to Maria, another accused, Malgunda Patil who died while ferrying a bomb along with an accomplice, had called up Juvekar and invited him for a terror training in Goa. ``They were taught on how to make a bomb, connect timers, batteries, gelatin sticks and the use of improvised explosive device (IED),'' said Maria. Jevekar has been remanded into police custody till August 3.

Juvekar was arrested in a joint operation of several teams of the ATS. The police claimed to have recovered a 7.65 mm pistol from him. ``He was a conspirator in the blast and took part in all the conspiracy meeting. Juvekar had been evading arrest since the bomb blast. He had also taken part in an experiment of bomb making and doing an explosion in Goa,'' added the ATS chief.

According to ATS sources, Juvekar's parents, both retired bank employees, were full time sevaks of the Sanatan Sanstha. ``Jevekar got married a few weeks prior to the blast. He was a full time parcharak (preacher) for the outfit,'' said an officer. Juvekar is also accused of taking part in a conspiracy meeting in 2008 that was held in Jalgaon district in Maharashtra.

Juvekar, a Commerce graduate, quit Law degree course in the final year. ``He has told names of around half a dozen Sanatan members who attended the conspiracy meetings,'' said the source, adding, Juvekar was not a planter. An officer said that soon after the Goa blast, Jevekar went underground. ``He stayed with his maternal uncle in Malad in Mumbai, then went to Rajkot, Baroda, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Bihar and Varanasi. ``We arrested him while he was returning to Mahrashtra,'' the officer said.

BOX:

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on May 17, 2010 filed a charge sheet in against 11 activists of right-wing organisation, Sanatan Sanstha for the 2009 Diwali-eve blasts in Goa. They face charges of conspiring and collecting arms for waging a war against the state and mischief. They have also been charged under the Explosive Substance Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The chargesheet, running into about 3,000 pages, was filed before sessions judge U V Bakre. The two accused who died in the blast were Malgonda Patil of Sangli and Yogesh Naik of Talaulim-Ponda.

Four others-Vinay D Talekar, 28, and Vinayak P Patil, 29, both of Ponda, Dhananjay K Ashtekar, 28, of Ratnagiri and Dilip G Malgaonkar, 39, of Sangli-are in NIA's custody. The remaining five-Rudra Patil of Sangli, Sarang Ankolekar of Pune, and Jayprakash alias Anna, Prashant Ashtekar and Prashant Juvekar, all from Ratnagiri-are absconding. The chargesheet names 250 witnesses, who are likely to be examined by the local court during the trial.

August 3, 2010

11 Hindu activists charged in Goa blast, outfit may be let off

MARGAO | Oct 16, 2009

Panaji: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed charges in a court against 11 activists of a Hindu right-wing organisation for the 2009 Diwali-eve blasts that killed two people in Goa’s Margao town.

However, the organisation itself has been given a clean chit, its top official claimed, noting that it has not been named as a conspirator. All the 11 people named in the chargesheet are members of Sanatan Sanstha, whose members were also linked to several low-intensity explosions in Maharashtra some years ago.

They face charges of conspiring and collecting arms for waging a war against the state and mischief. They have also been charged under the Explosive Substance Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The chargesheet, running into about 3,000 pages, was filed before sessions judge U V Bakre. The investigating agency also listed among the accused two Sanatan members who were killed in the blast that took place while they were ferrying the explosives to a festival gathering in Margao on October 16, 2009.

The two accused who died in the blast were Malgonda Patil of Sangli and Yogesh Naik of Talaulim-Ponda.

Four others—Vinay D Talekar, 28, and Vinayak P Patil, 29, both of Ponda, Dhananjay K Ashtekar, 28, of Ratnagiri and Dilip G Malgaonkar, 39, of Sangli—are in NIA’s custody. The remaining five—Rudra Patil of Sangli, Sarang Ankolekar of Pune, and Jayprakash alias Anna, Prashant Ashtekar and Prashant Juvekar, all from Ratnagiri—are absconding.

When contacted, Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak said: “We can’t comment until we see the chargesheet. However, we have trust in the judiciary and respect the judicial process.” Another top Sanatan official said that nowhere in the chargesheet had the NIA named it as a conspirator. The chargesheet names 250 witnesses, who are likely to be examined by the local court during the trial.

The NIA chargesheet said that the sanstha is an organization showing extreme interest in matters of the Hindu religion and that it organizes marshall training in their property at Damshe-Valpoi. It also points out that ten of the accused used a building owned by Laxmikant Naik, another brother of Yogesh Naik to conspire, assemble the IEDs and for blast meetings. The hillock behind Naik’s house at Talaulim-Ponda was used to test the IEDs prepared by using a gelatin stick on August 24 and 25, 2009. TNN AND AGENCIES

Hindu Terror Comes To Fore?
National Investigation Agency names 11 members of Hindu outfit Sanatan Sanstha as accused in Margao blast in 2009

Chargesheet running into about 3,000 pages also names two men who were killed in an accidental blast while ferrying explosives to Margao

Accused named are Vinay Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar, all of whom are in jail

Ashtekar is accused of rigging 12 detonator circuits in Pune, of which five were set aside for the
Goa blast. Test IED was prepared with gelatin sticks and exploded in the jungles adjoining Talaulim village on August 24-25, 2009

Accused charged with criminal conspiracy, waging war against state, mischief and under explosives act and UAPA

LENS ON SANATAN SANSTHA
Set up in 1990 by Jayant Bal Athavale with the blessings of Bhaktaraj Maharaj, the outfit aimes at spreading scientific outlook on spirituality
With a chain of centres in India and abroad, the organization conducts discourses, rallies and campaigns to “create awareness of righteousness”
Several parties have sought a ban on the outfit, whose name has surfaced in many attacks and is linked to Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur

The Times of India, May 18, 2010

11 Hindu activists charged in Goa blast, outfit may be let off

Panaji: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed charges in a court against 11 activists of a Hindu right-wing organisation for the 2009 Diwali-eve blasts that killed two people in Goa’s Margao town.
However, the organisation itself has been given a clean chit, its top official claimed, noting that it has not been named as a conspirator. All the 11 people named in the chargesheet are members of Sanatan Sanstha, whose members were also linked to several low-intensity explosions in Maharashtra some years ago.
They face charges of conspiring and collecting arms for waging a war against the state and mischief. They have also been charged under the Explosive Substance Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The chargesheet, running into about 3,000 pages, was filed before sessions judge U V Bakre. The investigating agency also listed among the accused two Sanatan members who were killed in the blast that took place while they were ferrying the explosives to a festival gathering in Margao on October 16, 2009.
The two accused who died in the blast were Malgonda Patil of Sangli and Yogesh Naik of Talaulim-Ponda.
Four others—Vinay D Talekar, 28, and Vinayak P Patil, 29, both of Ponda, Dhananjay K Ashtekar, 28, of Ratnagiri and Dilip G Malgaonkar, 39, of Sangli—are in NIA’s custody. The remaining five—Rudra Patil of Sangli, Sarang Ankolekar of Pune, and Jayprakash alias Anna, Prashant Ashtekar and Prashant Juvekar, all from Ratnagiri—are absconding.
When contacted, Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak said: “We can’t comment until we see the chargesheet. However, we have trust in the judiciary and respect the judicial process.” Another top Sanatan official said that nowhere in the chargesheet had the NIA named it as a conspirator. The chargesheet names 250 witnesses, who are likely to be examined by the local court during the trial.
The NIA chargesheet said that the sanstha is an organization showing extreme interest in matters of the Hindu religion and that it organizes marshall training in their property at Damshe-Valpoi. It also points out that ten of the accused used a building owned by Laxmikant Naik, another brother of Yogesh Naik to conspire, assemble the IEDs and for blast meetings. The hillock behind Naik’s house at Talaulim-Ponda was used to test the IEDs prepared by using a gelatin stick on August 24 and 25, 2009. TNN AND AGENCIES Hindu Terror Comes To Fore?
National Investigation Agency names 11 members of Hindu outfit Sanatan Sanstha as accused in Margao blast in 2009
Chargesheet running into about 3,000 pages also names two men who were killed in an accidental blast while ferrying explosives to Margao Accused named are Vinay Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar, all of whom are in jail Ashtekar is accused of rigging 12 detonator circuits in Pune, of which five were set aside for the Goa blast. Test IED was prepared with gelatin sticks and exploded in the jungles adjoining Talaulim village on August 24-25, 2009 Accused charged with criminal conspiracy, waging war against state, mischief and under explosives act and UAPA

LENS ON SANATAN SANSTHA
Set up in 1990 by Jayant Bal Athavale with the blessings of Bhaktaraj Maharaj, the outfit aimes at spreading scientific outlook on spirituality
With a chain of centres in India and abroad, the organization conducts discourses, rallies and campaigns to “create awareness of righteousness”
Several parties have sought a ban on the outfit, whose name has surfaced in many attacks and is linked to Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur

The Times of India, May 18, 2010

We do not advocate terrorism: Sanstha

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Sanatan Sanstha, a socio-religious group that made headlines after the Goa bomb blast last September, plans to weed out extremist elements from the organisation while admitting that some of the accused may be its members, but it never advocated terrorism.

The Sanstha on Wendesday conducted a press conference in Mumbai where it tried to clarify its stand. “We are against violence and do not support any such act,” said Abhay Vartak, the Sanstha’s spokesperson. “We are upset with the Goa government for naming Sanstha in the blast, although there is no evidence that could prove that the Sanstha was involved in the blast,” he added. A bomb fitted on a motor bike went off killing two persons who happened to be Sanstha’s sevaks.

“We have nothing to do with any blast.” We are, in fact, trying to identify such elements who are involved in violence and anti national activities. For this, we are also helping the police,'' said Vartak. He also alleged that the Goa police was preventing people from joining Sanstha and propagating its ideology.

The Times of India, January 7, 2010

Accused in Goa blast used farmer’s SIM

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: Investigations into the October 16 blast at Margao in Goa have revealed that one of the deceased suspects had been using the SIM card of a farmer from Baramati.

Yogesh Naik and Malgunda Patil, both members of right-wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha, had died in the Diwali-eve explosion.

“We found that Malgunda was using a SIM card that was issued in the name of a farmer, Vitthal Jadhav,” a Goa police official said. “Jadhav told us that he had lost his card two years ago. It is likely that Malgunda was using Jadhav’s SIM card to cover his tracks,’’ the official added.

Meanwhile, the Goa police has given clean chit to three Baramati residents it had brought in for questioning in connection with the case.

Two persons arrested from Goa on Saturday in the case—Vinay Talekar (30) and Vinayak Patil (27) have been booked for waging a war against the nation. While Talekar is an MBA from Goa University and had quit his job recently, Patil worked as a driver with the Park Hyatt Hotel in south Goa. According to Goa superintendent of police (special branch) Atmaram Deshpande, both were close friends of Malugnda.

The Times of India, November 3, 2009

TERROR TRAIL - 2 held, 2 detained in Goa blast case

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: The Goa police on Saturday morning detained two persons from Sangli district and took them to Goa for further questioning in connection with the October 16 blast. However, their identities have not been disclosed yet.

Two teams of the Goa police have been camping in Sangli and Miraj as the police have found out that the two deceased, Yogesh Naik and Malgunda Patil, both members of rightwing organisation Sanatan Sanstha, were from Maharashtra.

“We have heard about two people being taken by the Goa police but have not been told about it yet,’’ said a senior ATS official. The Goa police also announced the arrest of two persons in Margao. “We have arrested Vinayak Patil (27) and Vinay Talekar (30),’’ said deputy inspector general of Goa police Ravindra Yadav.

Talekar is originally from Karwar, and Patil is a native of Belgaum district in Karnataka. Both were residing in Ponda. According to the police, Talekar is an MBA from Goa University.

The timer used in the Goa blast was purchased from Maharashtra, said an official. The bomb, fitted on a bike, exploded on the night of October 16. Naik and Patil were riding the bike. The police started their investigation with background-checks of Naik and Patil. Patil was under the Goa police scanner for his “suspicious activities’’.

“The Goa police have detained some people, but I don’t know their names so far,’’ said outgoing director-general of Maharashtra police S S Virk.

The Maharashtra ATS has, over the past three weeks, questioned nearly 100 people, most of whom are suspected to have been associated with the Sanstha, in connection with the blast. However, they could not make any breakthrough in the case. Sanatan Sanstha’s name first came to light when its two sevaks were arrested by the ATS in 2008 for engineering bomb blasts at Thane, Panvel and Vashi.

The police have established that the arrested persons were very close friends of the two deceased.

The Times of India, November 1, 2009

TERROR TRAIL - State rejects police plan to ban Sanatan Sanstha

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: The state government has sent back to the state police, a proposal seeking a ban on the right wing organisation, Sanatan Sanstha. The Home department has made some queries and told the state police to give a comprehensive explanation.

This was the second proposal sent by the state police to the Home department, seeking a ban on the Sanstha, a Hindu revivalist group and sister organisation of the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti. On September 6, 2008, TOI was the first to report about a proposal being sent by the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) to the government. The second proposal was sent in September this year.

Last week, the state police received a list of queries from the state, which require clarification, before the state gives a green signal to the proposal and sends it to the Union government. S S Virk, director-general of police, said that they were examining the case. “The proposal was sent by the intelligence agencies to the state but the Home department has returned the proposal to us with some queries. We are trying to answer all of them and check the latest activities of Sanatan Sanstha, its members, to find out if they are still active (terror-related action),’’ said Virk.

On October 16, a motorcycle blast in Goa killed two Sanstha members, Malgunda Patila and Yogesh Naik, both residents of Maharashtra. “After the Maharashtra link cropped up in the Goa blast, we sent our team there to see if Sanstha members were involved in the blast. However, the evidence and our information does not corroborate their involvement,’’ added Virk.

The state police chief said the Sanstha members were working on the lines of Bajrang Dal but refused to comment on why Bajrang Dal has not been banned so far. According to him, there was not sufficient evidence against Bajrang Dal too. “Members are performing their activities ‘silently’ and their involvement was also found in Miraj and Sangli,’’ he added. A police team also conducted a thorough search of Patil and Naik’s residences in Maharashtra but was tightlipped about the results.

The ATS had last year arrested six persons including two Sanatan Sanstha sevaks—Ramesh Gadkari and Santosh Angre (20). They were accused of making and planting bombs at three places in Thane, Vashi and Panvel. A play, ‘Amhi Pachpute’, was to be staged at a Thane theatre where the bomb exploded. The Sanstha had protested against the play, saying that it showed Hindu gods and goddesses in a “poor light’’.

The Times of India, October 27, 2009

ATS should have kept eye on Goa plotter: Police

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: Malgunda Patil, a member of right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha who was killed in the Goa blast, had been under the scanner of the Maharashtra ATS since last year. Had he been kept under regular surveillance, the explosion in Goa could have been averted, said a police officer.

Pat i l — s u s - pected to be a key conspirator behind the Goa explosion—was reportedly in touch with Vikram Vinay Bhave (26), who planted bombs at a Thane auditorium in May. The Goa explosion on October 16 claimed another person, Yogesh Naik.

According to a source, the ATS was aware of Patil’s link with Bhave, who was also part of Sanatan Sanstha. In fact, a source said, Patil came under the ATS watch last year after the explosions at Thane and Vashi following which six persons, including two members of Sanatan Sanstha, were arrested. However, a few months down the line, the official became lenient towards him, with neither the ATS nor any other agency keeping tabs on him. Now, intelligence officials are busy reviewing the “communication lapse’’ in monitoring Patil, who was based in Sangli and would often visit Goa.

“Patil was in riot-affected Miraj in September last year. He was in touch with Thane blast plotter Bhave, who knew how to make bombs. With such facts at their disposal, ATS should have kept a watch on Patil,’’ said police.

An ATS officer, however, said, “We do not have any information on Patil’s involvement in any crime. He was in touch with Bhave as both belonged to the same group.’’ The intelligence agencies had reportedly told the Goa police about Patil after the Thane blasts.

The Times of India, October 24, 2009

State is turning into right-wing terror hub: Cops

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: Take either the 2008 Kanpur blast or the previous week’s Goa blast — their links have been traced to Maharashtra. Senior police officials and retired cops say the state is fast becoming a hub of right-wing organisations’ terror activities considering that most of them are headquartered in the state.

“Most Hindu hardline outfits are Maharashtra based. Even before Independence, extremist activities were on in full swung in the state. The hardliners are now getting into more extreme activities, but they should not take law into their hands,” said V N Deshmukh, former joint director Intelligence Bureau who retired as state intelligence chief. Deshmukh further said that it is time the state banned Sanatan Sanstha, whose members are allegedly involved in Goa blasts. The outfit had made headlines last year during blasts in Thane and Panvel theatres.

TOI, on September 6, 2008, had reported about the ATS and state intelligence department’s recommendation to ban Sanatan Sanstha. The recommendation had come after the ATS arrested six members with alleged links to the outfit.

In the 2008 Malegaon blast, the suspected members of Abinav Bharat and Jai Vande Matram Samiti, had gathered from Jabalpur, Bhopal and Kanpur to allegedly conduct conspiracy meetings at Deolali and Nasik. Moreover, a blast accused, Rakesh Dhawade, allegedly organised terror training for Bajrang Dal members near Sinhgarh in Pune in 2003.

There have been blasts at mosques in Jalna, Porna, Parbhani and Beed in the past. Those arrested belonged to fundamental organisations. Two Bajrang Dal members died while making a bomb in Nanded in 2006. “The youth are being indoctrinated by fundamental organisations. The state should act quickly to control rightwing terror,” said an officer.

“Maharashtra has been the most affected state in terms of foreign terror attacks. This is also a reason why hardliners are grouping under one umbrella in the state,” said a senior officer.

CHRONOLOGY OF BLASTS

October 2009: A bomb goes off in Goa, killing one instantly. The police detain members of Sanatan Sanstha.

April 2009: A bomb planted in a Beed mosque goes off early in the morning. Nobody is injured since the mosque is locked. Beed police arrest three — Ashok Lande (21), Mayur Lande (20) and Tulsidas Lande (17).

September 2008: A powerful RDX bomb goes off in Malegaon, killing six and injured 101. Eleven members of Abhinav Bharat, Vande Matram Jan Kalyan Samiti are arrested.

August 2008: Kanpur police recover a huge quantity of explosives from a hostel that was owned by the father of Rajiv Mishra, who was killed in a hostel blast at Rajivnagar in August.

March 2008: A bomb goes off in a Panvel cinema hall. Six persons, two of them Sanatan Sanstha members, are arrested. The police recover two revolvers, a huge quantity of ammonium nitrate powder, detonators, gelatin sticks and related material.

June 2008: Six persons, allegedly associated with the Sanatan Sanstha, plant a bomb at Thane’s Gadkari Rangayatan. Seven persons are injured in the blast.

May 2008: The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad defuse a bomb found at Vashi’s auditorium. The bomb is allegedly planted by Sanatan Sanstha members.


April 6, 2006:*
A bomb went off while being manufactured in Nanded and killed two Bajrang Dal mebes, Himanshu Panse and Naresh Rajkondwar on the spot. A total of 12 Bajrang Dal members were arrested. The accused were training in bomb making and operating fire arms. The bomb contained high-intensity gunpowder and police seized 1.5 kg gun powder, pipe bomb, bomb making material etc.

August 2004:*
Two Bajrang Dal members threw a bomb in Qadriya mosque in Jalna during Friday paryers. Four Bajrang Dal members were arrested for the blast.

August 27, 2004: *
A bomb went off at Porna's madrassa Meraj-ul-Uloom. No one was killed. Four Bajrang Dal members were arrested for this.

November 21, 2003:*
A bomb went off at the Mohammedia mosque in Parbhani during Friday praryers. No one was killed but several others were injured. Six people including Sanjay Chaudhry, Yogesh Deshpande and Rakesh Dhawde were caught for the blast.

(*: Not printed in the newspaper)

The Times of India, October 21, 2009

ATS grills 40 suspects

‘WE ARE NOT GUILTY’: Sanathan Sanstha members address a press conference in Panvel on Monday

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) has over the past two days questioned nearly 40 people, most of whom are suspected to have been associated with Sanathan Sanstha, a rightwing Hindu organisation, in connection with last week’s Goa blast.

On Saturday, the Goa police detained five men for their alleged role in the blast that killed one Sanathan Sanstha activist, Malgonda Patil. Another activist, Yogesh Naik, who was seriously injured in the blast and hails from Sangli district in
Maharashtra, is yet to give his statement. The police have registered a case against the two for collecting arms to wage war against the nation and under various sections of the explosives act.

ATS personnel are now scanning the records of all the suspects who were questioned in 2007 after two mysterious blasts in Panvel and Thane. “One bomb planted in a cinema hall in Navi Mumbai did not explode. All the three bombs were allegedly planted by members of Sanathan Sanstha. The ATS had arrested six members of the Sanstha then,’’ an ATS officer said.

“Investigations are on. The blast probe is being carried out by the Goa police and the ATS is assisting them here,’’ said ATS chief Krish Pal Raghuvanshi. “A police team conducted a thorough search of Naik’s Sangli residence and is trying to find out from where he had procured the gelatine sticks and explosives,’’ said an ATS officer.

The ATS is still in the process of establishing if the bomb was made in Maharashtra and later transported to Goa. “We have supplied all the information that the Goa police had sought,’’ said a senior ATS official.

“We suspect that the accused were trained in bombmaking too. Many people are under our radar and we are monitoring their activities. In the 2007 blast cases, we found out that two members of the Sanstha had mastered bombmaking techniques and had even done a recce of the places. In the Goa case, we suspect a similar modus operandi,’’ said an ATS officer.

Goa government, police framing us in Margao explosion: Sanathan Sanstha

Vijay Singh | TNN
Sanathan Sanstha, the rightwing Hindu organisation, is claiming that their members are being deliberately framed in the Goa blast case.

Addressing journalists in Panvel on Monday, Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak said, “It is a conspiracy by the Goa politicians and police against our organisation. There is no objectionable material recovered by the police from our Goa ashram and also from Miraj. Yet, the Goa government is trying to defame us.”

According to Vartak, while Malgonda Patil—the man who died in the scooter blast— was a sadhak from the Sanstha’s Goa Ashram, Yogesh Naik was not a member of the Sanstha. “He had come to the ashram to deliver milk,’’ he said.

“The media has also been wrongly portraying that the owner of the scooter, Nishaad Bakhale, is associated with the Sanstha. The fact is that Bakhale is not our sadhak,’’ said Vartak.

Vartak also complained that the Goa police did not carry out any spot panchanama and came without a search warrant to the ashram for checking Patil’s belongings. “The police seized some computer hard disks, but refused to make a hash value report. The hash value report is very important as then no one can tamper with the disks. Now, anyone can put objectionable material in the disks and blame the Sanstha for it,’’ explained Vartak. He also added that the Goa police have still not handed over Patil’s body to his family. When mediapersons asked questions on the Thane and Vashi blasts, Vartak said that the matter is pending in court, and that they do not support any sort of violence.

The Times of India, October 20, 2009

MARGAO EXPLOSION - ATS team in Goa to question blast accused

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: A team of state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) team on Saturday reached Goa to question two of the suspects detained in connection with the explosion in Margao in Goa. The suspects belong to a right-wing outfit, Sanatan Sanstha. One member of the outfit was killed in the blast on Friday, while another is battling for his life.

The deceased, Malgonda Patil, was riding a scooter with Yogesh Naik when the blast occurred. The two-wheeler belongs to another Sanstha member, Nishad Bakhale. He has also been detained.

“The ATS team will try to get more information about the case,’’ said ATS chief Krishna Pal Raghuvanshi, adding that Naik hails from Sangli district. A police team also went to Naik’s house in Sangli for investigation. Senior ATS officials said they were probing if those detained or the deceased had any association with another organisation, Abhinav Bharat, members of which were arrested for the 2008 Malegaon blast.

The ATS in 2007 had arrested six members of the Sanstha for their role in bomb blasts at Thane, Panvel and Vashi. The six accused, two of whom were full-time sevaks of the outfit, had allegedly planned the blasts to protest against a Marathi play, Aamhi Pachpute. The had contended that the play was depicting Hindu gods and goddesses in poor light. The ATS had then said that the arrested Sanstha members were taught how to make bombs and had conducted a recce of the blast sites.

Margao town was abuzz with activity on Friday night as it hosted ‘Narakasur’ effigy competition, which is a tradition on the eve of Diwali. The blast took place close to the competition venue.

The police have recovered a cellphone and other gadgets from the place where the two deceased were staying. Goa police said in Sancoale near Vasco, another blast was averted.

The Times of India, October 18, 2009

Security agencies mull banning Sanatan Sanstha

TERROR THREAT? The revivalist group is accused of having a role in the Thane theatre blast

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and the state intelligence department (SID) are busy discussing if the Sanatan Sanstha, a Hindu revivalist group and sister organisation of the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, can be banned.

The ATS is conducting an in-depth probe into the affairs of the sanstha after a few of its sevaks were arrested for planting bombs in several places of the state.

The ATS said members of the sanstha who were arrested included Ramesh Hanumant Gadkari (50), Mangesh Nikam (34), Santosh Angre (26), Dr Hemant Chalke (homoeopath), Vikram Bhave (26) and patil Hari Bhau Divekar.

“We are in touch with the SID and the state public prosecutor. The ATS is taking legal opinion on this issue,’’ said ATS joint commissioner of police Hemant Karkare. The ATS is also trying to ascertain whether there is enough evidence to ban the organisation, said an officer.
On May 31, a bomb planted in the parking lot of Gadkari Rangayatan theatre exploded; seven persons were injured in the blast. A play, Amhi Pachpute, was to be staged there. The sanstha had protested against the play saying that it showed Hindu gods and goddesses in “poor light”.

“We are busy comparing the evidence in this case with the law. If it fulfils all the requirements, then we will recommend a ban on the organisation. Discussions are on and the evidence is being examined,’’ said an officer.

The arrested sevaks have also been booked for their alleged role in the Vishnu Bhave auditorium case in Vashi and for planting a bomb in a Panvel cinema.

The ATS said Gadkari, Bhave and Nikam knew how to make bombs. They were all present when the bombs were being manufactured. During the interrogation, the accused said they collected the money from their savings.

Moreover, Gadkari had sold his shop to become a fulltime sevak. While Gadkari and Angre stayed at Sanatan Ashram in Devat near Panvel, Nikam was arrested from Satara and Bhave was picked up from Wadala. The bombs were made at Bhave’s house.

The accused told the police that they hid some bomb-making material in Satara and Pen. During raids on the residence and fields of Vikram Bhave and Nikam in Warsai village of Pen (Raigad district), the ATS seized two revolvers, a huge quantity of ammonium nitrate powder, 20 detonators, 19 gelatin sticks, timers, voltage meters, two radio circuits and remote controllers. Investigators said Hari Bhau Devkar was arrested for hiding and trying to destroy the explosives.

The ATS formed 16 teams to detect the case and questioned more than 600 people in this connection. It was revealed that the accused had bought shrapnel from Panvel, eight timers from Lohar Chawl for Rs 550 each and even asked for a 5% discount. The batteries were bought from a shop in Grant Road. The circuits for the bombs were made by Gadkari who holds a diploma in electronics engineering. Detonators, gelatin sticks and ammonium nitrate were obtained from the city. Nikam and Dr Chalke were also involved in a Ratnagiri blast case of 2006 and were acquitted.


The Hindu Janjagran Samiti sevaks arrested in this case are:

June 16, 2008: 1) Ramesh Gadkari (50), resided at Sanatan Ashram
2) Mangesh Nikam (34), resident of Satara

June 17, 2008:
3) Santosh Angre (26), resided at Sanatan Ashram
4) Vikram Bhave (26), a resident of Pen

June 19, 2008:
5) Hari Divekar (35), a police patil, arrested from Ratnagiri for hiding 20 detonators, 19 gelatine sticks, three timers, circuits, batteries, photo album etc.

June 21, 2008: 6) Dr Hemant Chalke (35), a resident of Pen, arrestd for doing recce of the Vashi theatre. He had gone along with Gadkari to purchse timers.

The Times of India, September 6, 2008

Rohini Salian appointed in theatre bomb case

WITH A BLAST: Seven persons were injured when a bomb went off at a theatre in Thane

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: Former state public prosecutor Rohni Salian will be appointed as the special public prosecutor in the Thane, Vashi and Panvel bomb blast cases. The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) officials on Monday invoked the stringent sections of the Unalwful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against the six accused arrested in mid-June.

Six accused, four of whom were sevaks of Hindu revialist group, Santan Sanstha, run by Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, were arrested for planting bombs at Cineraj cinema in Panvel, Vishnudas Bhave auditorium in Vashi and Gadkari theatre in Thane. They were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and Explsove Act. The accused are likely to be subjected to lie-detector and narco analysis tests next week.

“We have spoken to Rohini Salian and she has agreed to present the case as special public prosecutor in the court,’’ said additional commissioner of police, Param Bir Singh. Salian, now a defence lawyer in several cases, had worked with the law and judiciary department till last year before she resigned.

The newly invoked sections of the UAPA are in connection with punishment for terror act (section 16) and punishment for conspiracy for a terror act (section 18). The six accused, two of whom stayed at Santan’s ashram, had conspired to “avenge the insult of Hindu god and goddesses’’ who were, according to them, shown in poor light in a play, Amhi Pachpute. They assembled detonators, gelatin sticks, batteries, timers, circuits, ammonium nitrate and manufactured bombs. The police seized large numbers of detonators, gelatin sticks, timers and circuits during two raids in Pen and Satara. A police patil has also been arrested for destruction of evidence.

“It seems they wanted to conduct more blasts. We are not buying their theory and our probe is on,’’ added Singh.

The identification parade (IP) will be conducted for the four accused on the premises of the Arthur Road jail on Wednesday. Those subjected to the parade include Ramesh Gadkari, Mangesh Nikam, Santosh Angre and Vikram Bhave. The ATS is working to find out if the accused had conducted more blasts in the state.

The Times of India, July 2, 2008

One more in ATS net for Vashi bomb scare

Mumbai: The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested Dr Hemant Chalke, a sympathiser of Sanatan Sanstha, for doing the recce of Vashi’s Bhave theatre where a bomb was found on May 31.

Chalke was produced before the Mazgaon court and sent to police custody till June 24. He is the sixth accused to be arrested in this case.

Chalke is a member of Sanatan Sanshta, a revivalist group run by the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti in Panvel. “He had done a recce to check everything and had suggest the place to plant the bomb. We are questioning him and expect to get more information from him,’’ said an officer.

The ATS is probing the bomb blasts at a Thane theatre and at a cinema hall in Panvel. A group of Sevaks has been arrested in this connection and the police seized 19 gelatin sticks, 20 detonators, two timers and three circuits, which were dumped at Balganga river in Pen. From another accused, Mangesh Nikam’s Satara residence, the police seized six batteries, one timer and half-a-dozen detonators. TNN

The Times of India, June 24, 2008