Wednesday;June 22, 2016: Central Bureau of Investigation team in Panvel yesterday , interrogated Nidhi Tawde, wife of Dr Virendrasinh Tawde, an accused in murder of Pune based rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar.

As per the source in CBI, “a search was conducted at the couple's Panvel residence soon after Nidhi's interrogation. Last week, the agency had stated that Tawde was suspected to be the chief architect of Dabholkar's murder and that interrogation of his wife and some known associates was on the cards.”

“Investigators had previously tried to interrogate Nidhi but she was out of the country. She had been visiting her sister in London and returned to Panvel on Monday”, said agency officials.

"It was a preliminary examination. If the need arises, she will be questioned again," said a CBI official.

According to sources, “Nidhi too is believed to be involved with these organisations. She, however, grew distant over the years and shifted her focus to her medical practice. The CBI officials said the couple was in touch with each other, but because of his Sanstha-related activities, Tawde mostly lived in an ashram. Both SS and HJS encourage their members to focus on the Hindutva cause and not be distracted by family life

As per the agency sources,  “Tawde, in an email to Akolkar, had stated that in order to arm a private army of 15,000, their group required proper funding to purchase weapons. Tawde had further written that if a situation arose wherein finding money became an issue, the right wing group should be prepared to kill and steal”.

Agency officials also said ,“between 2010 and 2012, Tawde, along with Akolkar, had attended arms training session in Goa as well as in Sangli and Pune”.