KOLHAPUR: A magistrate court here today extended the judicial custody of Sameer Gaikwad, an activist of right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha and prime suspect in the murder of Communist leader Govind Pansare, till November 7.
Gaikwad, who was remanded in 14-day judicial custody, however, could not be produced in the court in person due to security reasons, Magistrate R B Dange was informed by the jail authorities here. On October 9, the court had extended the judicial custody of Gaikwad till today while denying permission to subject him to brain-mapping test.
During the proceedings, Gaikwad had told the court that he was not willing to undergo brain-mapping because his "mental health" wasn't good. The lawyer representing the Pansare's family had said that the test can be conducted after his health improved, but Gaikwad had remained firm on his stand.
As such tests cannot be conducted without the person's consent, the court had that day rejected the police application seeking permission for his brain mapping. The court had also dismissed the police request for his fresh custody for identification parade.
Gaikwad was arrested on September 16 in the case. Pansare, a veteran CPI leader, and his wife were shot by two unidentified motorcycle-borne persons in Kolhapur in February. While his wife survived, Pansare died in a Mumbai hospital.