Nearly a decade after the assassination of Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Govind Pansare, the Bombay High Court has granted bail to six accused, citing prolonged incarceration and lack of trial progress. The decision comes as investigators continue to search for two suspects still on the run.
Govind Pansare, 82, was gunned down in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, on February 16, 2015, while returning home from a morning walk with his wife. He succumbed to his injuries four days later. Despite multiple investigative shifts—from local police to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and later to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS)—authorities have yet to apprehend the two alleged shooters.
The six accused granted bail—Sachin Andure, Ganesh Miskin, Amit Degvekar, Amit Baddi, Bharat Kurane, and Vasudev Suryavanshi—were among 12 individuals identified in connection with the attack. While 10 were arrested, investigators filed four supplementary charge sheets, and the trial remains ongoing.
In August 2022, the Bombay High Court transferred the case to the ATS after noting a potential “breakthrough.” The court had been overseeing the probe but recently stepped back, pushing for an expedited trial. Despite renewed urgency, delays in proceedings led to the bail decision, raising concerns over the slow pace of justice in a case that has remained unsolved for nearly a decade.
