The Sanatan Sanstha is a Hindu organization seeking Hindu nationalism in India.[1][2][3][4] It is a non-government charitable trust founded in 1999 by hypnotherapist Dr Jayant Balaji Athavale.[5] It is headquartered in Ramathi, Goa.[6]

Formation24 March 1999; 25 years ago (1999-03-24)
FounderParatpar Guru (Dr.) Jayant Athavale
TypeNonprofit, NGO, Charitable trust
PurposeSpreading spirituality, Humanitarian
HeadquartersRamnathi, Goa, India
ServicesSpiritual discourses, Environmental protection, Humanitarian aid, Medical aid
MethodsHindu awareness
AffiliationsHindu Janajagruti Samiti
Websitesanatan.org

The Sanstha is engaged in a host of activities such as spreading spirituality by conducting various discourses for the spiritually curious,[7][8] publishing holy texts,[9] creating awareness on issues concerning Nation and Dharma,[10][11] activities related to relief and rehabilitation,[12][13] environment protection etc.[14][15]

Persons owing allegiance to Sanatan Sanstha have been arrested in four bombings in Vashi, Thane, Panvel (all in 2007) and Goa (in 2009) and in the murders of Narendra Dabholkar (in 2013), Govind Pansare and M. M. Kalburgi (both in 2015).[16][17][18] This has led to calls for Sanatan Sanstha to be banned.[19] However, such claims have been ruled out by Maharashtra state's Home Minister,[20] Karnataka CID,[21] Goa chief minister[22] and Central Home Ministry.[23] In 2015, Minister of state for home for Government of India informed in Rajya Sabha that, no links could be found among the murders of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M. M. Kalburgi and there was no proposal to ban Sanatan Sanstha.[24]

Dabholkar's family claims the link between the three murders and requesting court to club the cases.[25][26] However, Central Bureau of Investigation have informed the Bombay High Court that it is waiting for the ballistic report from Scotland Yard to link all three cases.[27]

Founding

Dr. Athavale was a consultant psychiatrist and a clinical hypnotherapist. He graduated from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, following which he initially practiced in Mumbai and then in the United Kingdom for two decades.[6][28] During the course of his psychiatric practice, Dr. Athavale claimed that around 30% of his patients did not recover completely despite receiving the best medical treatment, but they instead recovered after adopting spiritual remedies or performing certain vedic rituals. He further studied the what he considered to be science of spirituality and this quest led him to his spiritual guide, Bhaktaraj Maharaj.[29][6] From the year 1995, he dedicated himself towards the cause of spreading spirituality. Under the guidance of his Guru, he founded the Sanstha in March 1999 with the aim to make people understand spirituality in a simple, scientific and pragmatic manner.[28][29][30]

Ideology

It is a right wing organisation.[31][32][33] The Sanstha is registered as a charitable trust. It was established in 1999 by Dr. Jayant Balaji Athavale to propagate spirituality.[34] Dr. Athavale conceptualised the path of Gurukrupayoga, which is an amalgamation of Karma yoga, Jnana yoga and Bhakti yoga. This path of spiritual practice is advocated by the Sanstha for rapid spiritual progress.[35] This path of spiritual practice comprises two components, viz. vyashti and samashti Sādhanā. Vyashti sadhana brings about individual spiritual upliftment, whereas, samashti sadhana aims at the welfare of the society and nation.[35] The underlying principle of Gurukrupayoga is attaining Guru’s grace. Guru’s grace can be attained by incorporating chanting, attending satsangs, performing satseva, sacrificing, loving others without any expectations and by removing personality defects and ego aspects in daily routine.

Further, the Sanstha assesses the spiritual level of an individual on a scale of 1 to 100 percent to describe the spiritual maturity of the person. The higher one’s spiritual level, the greater is the amount of God principle manifested in that person. According to the Sanstha, the spiritual level a person having negligible interest in spirituality is around 20 percent. Spiritual level of those performing regular spiritual practice (those engaged in ritualistic worship, reading Holy verses or keeping fasts) is in the range of 25 to 30 percent. Post 60 percent, one steadily progresses towards sainthood and Saints have a spiritual level of more than 70 percent. Moksha is attained at the spiritual level of 100 percent.[35] In essence, when one performs Sadhana (spiritual practice) under the guidance of a Guru, his spiritual level increases and subsequently he gets liberated from the cycle of birth and death.[35]

Activities

Sanatan Sanstha started organising various online spiritual discourses aired via Facebook and Youtube live during the initial phase of COVID-19 lockdown in India.[7][8]

They promote holy texts in various exhibitions and literary events.[36][37]

They publish books in various languages about spiritual and religious subjects.[38][9] Sanatan Prabhat, a periodical, is published in Marathi, Hindi, English and Kannada.[36][39][40][41]

Sanatan Sanstha celebrates Guru Purnima festival in places across India every year. Vyaspujan & Gurupujan is performed followed by discourses on spiritual practice and the protection of nation & Dharma.[42][43][44]

Every year during the festival of Holi, volunteers of Sanatan Sanstha form a human chain to guard the Khadakwasla dam from revellers, thereby preventing them from bathing and polluting the water.[14][45]

 
Volunteers of Sanatan Sanstha participating in the Khadakwasla reservoir protection drive during Holi festival in March 2019.

Alleged criminal activities

Panvel, Thane and Vashi bomb blast

Allegations

In 2008, six persons owing allegiance to Sanatan Sanstha were arrested for planting bombs in auditoriums at Thane and Vashi and in a movie theater at Panvel.[46][47] In 2011, two of the accused were found guilty and sentenced to ten years incarceration.[48] Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave were acquitted of the terror charges under the stringent UAPA,[49][50] however, the state government's appeal against the removal of UAPA is still pending in the High Court.[51] The Maharashtra government has sought to ban the organization,[52] and has pressed the case for a ban to the central government as well.[53] A central government investigation of the group was ongoing. On 2 December 2015, the Minister of Home Affairs stated in the upper house (Rajya Sabha) that there was no proposal to ban Sanatan Sanstha.[24]

The organization's public image was sullied by allegations of involvement in unlawful activities. Hence it started a series of public meetings in different cities in Maharashtra to dispel what it called "misunderstandings".[54]

Convictions

On 30 August 2011, Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave were convicted in sessions court of the Thane blasts and sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment.[55][56][57] Judgment of trial court was further challenged in the Bombay (Mumbai) High Court and on 2 May 2013 that court ordered the release of the accused on bail while awaiting hearing.[58][59]

Goa blast

Six members of the Sanstha arrested in the Goa blast case under UAPA were acquitted by the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court for want of evidence, while UAPA remains in force against three Sanstha members who are absconding.[51][60][61] Two men were declared absconders by the NIA, with a red corner notice issued against one man.[62] Acquittal of six members of Sanatn Sanstha by NIA special court was also confirmed by Bombay High Court (HC) bench in Goa. While passing the order HC observed that, "Merely because the accused persons may have links with Sanatan Sanstha and Sanatan Sanstha was opposed to holding of Narkasur effigy competitions, is by no means sufficient to establish the accused persons had conspired to make explosion at such competition on the fateful night of 16 October 2009."[63][64][65]

Govind Pansare murder

A member of the Sanatan Sanstha was arrested for the murder of Govind Pansare.[51] The trial is yet to commence, but the suspect is already released on bail by the Kolhapur Sessions Court in 2017 due to contradictions in the witness’ statements and the forensic report.[66][67]

The Special Investigation Team investigating the murder, arrested Sanstha member Sameer Gaikwad and was on the lookout for another member Rudra Patil, who is absconding since the 2009 Goa blast.[68] The prosecution stated in court that Sameer Gaikwad was in different city (Thane) around the time of the murder of Govind Pansare.[69] Minister of Home Affairs Ranjit Patil claimed that the arrest of Sameer Gaikwad was based only on suspicion, and that the only proof is a cellphone conversation about killing Pansare.[20] Eventually, it was revealed that the evidence against Gaikwad is strong, as he was present at the scene of the crime, and he had discussed the murder with other Sanatan Sanstha members.[70] Sanatan Sanstha was also planning to create a 15,000-strong armed force.[71]

Narendra Dabholkar murder

Indian investigative agencies believe that the Sanatan Sanstha is implicated in the murder of Narendra Dabholkar.[17]

In June 2016, a member of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS), an offshoot of Sanatan Sanstha, was arrested in connection with the murder.[72][73] An official of the CBI revealed that emails exchanged between him and his underground colleague, from 2008 to 2013, discuss procurement of weapons and establishment of a weapon-manufacturing unit.[74] The bail applications of the accused were rejected in 2020.[75] However, the judgement by lower court was reversed by the Bombay High Court on 23 March 2021 and the accused was granted bail on 6 May 2021.[76] In September 2021 the court ordered the framing of charges against five members of Sanatan Sansta, including terrorism charges under the UAPA.[77][78]

Gauri Lankesh murder

Sanatan Sanstha members were suspected of involvement in the murder of Gauri Lankesh in 2017.[79] Forensic analysis has shown that the same pistol was used to kill Kalburgi,[80] and is also possibly the same gun that was used to kill Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare.[81] Sanstha was implicated in all these murders. However, a representative for Sanatan Sanstha denied involvement in the murder.[82][83] The article also says that the Karnataka police are investigating if the Gauri Lankesh murder has any connection to three previous murders attributed to the Sanstha.[84]

Hypnosis

Public interest litigations were filed in the Bombay High Court seeking a ban on the organisation, stating that it uses Ericksonian hypnosis to lure people into joining it and to carry out acts of violence.[85][86] Such claims are rejected by Hamid Dabholkar, son of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, saying that hypnotism could not provoke a person to cause violence and instead pointing at radicalization as the means of influence.[87]

Explosives haul

In August 2018, Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad (ATS) had recovered 20 crude bombs, two gelatin sticks, 4 electronic and 22 non-electronic detonators, 150 grams of explosive powder, two bottles labelled 'poison', batteries, soldering equipment, and a bomb circuit drawing from the house of Sanathan Sanstha worker in Nallasopara[88][89][90] Explosives and firearms were seized from Nallasopara, Pune and Solapur, and three other men were also arrested.[91]

Radicalisation

An Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer said after members of the right-wing outfit were arrested in connection Dabholkar’s murder "Members of Sanatan Sanstha are ‘hard nuts to crack’, who communicate in code languages and have networks in at least four prominent cities of Maharashtra. They also have an 84-page rule book that asks them to 'chant Lord's name' before shooting a target". "They don’t speak unless confronted with evidence. They are indoctrinated, tutored, and given elaborate directions. It is not easy to extract information from them," an officer involved in the probe told CNN-News18 on condition of anonymity.[92]

Drug haul

In September 2016, the Maharashtra police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the February 2015 murder of communist leader Govind Pansare, seized 20 boxes of restricted drugs — including sleeping pills and suppressants — from the premises Sanatan Sanstha’s ashram in Panvel. An SIT official stated that "It is suspected that the drugs were being used to control the mind of followers at the ashram".[93]

Social media controversy

Sanatan Sanstha's activity on social media has come under scrutiny. Facebook's security team has tagged it along with right wing organisations Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sena, as a potentially dangerous organisation that supports violence against minorities across India.[31][32][33] In September 2020, Facebook banned three of Sanatan’s pages. In response to this, Sanatan Sanstha had filed a petition against Facebook in the Bombay High Court. The petition stated that Facebook had violated the fundamental right of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India and only on directions of the government or a court, could Facebook have blocked the pages.[94][95] Sanatan's writ petition was dismissed by the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on the ground that it was a contractual dispute which was not maintainable under writ jurisdiction.[96] Regardless the organisation has been allowed to spread on Facebook due to political and safety considerations. Facebook has avoided acting against these organisation as it has ties with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and because "cracking down on Bajrang Dal might endanger both the company's business prospects and its staff in India", The Wall Street Journal newspaper wrote, reaffirming its reportage earlier this year on the subject.[97][98]

Environmental destruction and land grab

Sanatan Sanstha was served a notice by a local government body in 2021 over illegal hill cutting.[99] Locals protested over the cutting of forests and hills in Goa by Sanatan Sanstha to create residential plots and settle people from outside the state.[100]

Proposed ban on the organization

Supporters of the ban

BJP
  • In September 2015, Goa BJP MLA, Vishnu Wagh demanded that Sanatan Sanstha be banned, stating that there was evidence of the involvement of Sanatan Sanstha in the Pansare and Karburgi murders, and comparing Sanatan Sanstha to SIMI.[68][101] However, next day Chief Minister of Goa, Laxmikant Parsekar ruled out banning Sanatan Sanstha.[22]
  • Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that he would not hesitate to ban Sanatan Sanstha if any evidence found against the organisation.[102]
AAP
  • Aam Aadmi Party have demanded a ban on the Sanatan Sanstha for the alleged murders they have been involved in.[103]
NCP
Congress
  • Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan termed Sanatan Sanstha a dangerous organisation, and demanded that it be banned, and it's kingpin booked and punished. He referred to Sanatan Sanstha as 'terrorist elements that pose a threat to the country'.[102][107]
  • Congress, which is a part of the Maharashtra government, in 2019 demanded a ban on Sanatan Sanstha.[108]
CPI and CPI(M)
  • The CPI and the CPI(M) have called for the Sanatan Sanstha to be banned, pointing out that the murders of Pansare, Dabholkar, Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh are interconnected and followed the same method.[109]
Government of Maharashtra
  • In April 2011, Prithviraj Chavan government send formal request to Central government for banning Sanatan Sanstha. However, due to lack of supporting evidences, Central government did not ban Sanatan Sanstha.[102]
  • The BJP-Shiv Sena government in 2017 said that a proposal had been sent to the central government seeking a ban on Sanatan Sanstha.[110][111][112]
  • In August 2018, the Government of Maharashtra said that it would send a fresh request to the Central Government to ban Sanatan Sanstha.[113]
Samajwadi Party

The Samajwadi Party demanded that Sanatan Sanstha be banned and asked the government to heighten security.[114]

Others
  • The Sambhaji Brigade has called for Sanatan Sanstha to be banned for conspiracy and murder.[115]
  • This demand of the people for a ban also reflected online and on social media, with a petition on Change.org and a page on Facebook.[116]
  • The daughter of Govind Pansare also called for the organisation to be banned.[117]
  • The government has been severely criticised for failing to ban Sanatan Sanstha; notably, the similarities with banned organisation Students Islamic Movement of India have been pointed out.[118][119][120]
  • Residents of Goa have been agitating for a ban on the organisation since 2009.[62][121]

Against the ban

BJP
  • On 24 December 2021, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, a BJP MLA, while expressing his stance in the Maharashtra assembly on the proposed ban on Sanatan Sanstha, asked the Government to notice the hypocrisy of those who demand such kind of prohibition. He asked why those people were silent on banning the Raza Academy. He further requested the MLAs to consider the results of a simple Google search for both of these organisations. The search result for Sanatan Sanstha shows a picture of Arti, while for Raza Academy, it shows an image of the member kicking the martyr’s pillar.[122][123][124]
  • On 2 December 2015, Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju informed that there is no current proposal for imposing a ban on Sanatan Sanstha.[24] Dabholkar's family is claiming the link between the three murders and requesting court to club the cases.[25][26] However, CBI have informed High Court that it is waiting for the ballistic report from Scotland Yard to link all three cases.[27]
  • On 22 September 2015, Former Home Secretary RK Singh told that Home Ministry under the previous UPA government concluded that there was no specific evidence against Sanatan Sanstha, so on that basis they couldn't ban the organization[23]
  • On 24 September 2015, while speaking to journalists at the secretariat in Porvorim, the then Chief Minister of Goa Laxmikant Parsekar ruled out the possibility of banning Sanatan Sanstha. He further said that if someone associated with the Sanstha is an accused in the case, it does not reflect on the Sanstha.[125]
Congress
  • In 2011, P. Chidambaram, the Home minister then, had turned down the demand to ban Sanatan Sanstha under section 35(3)(c) of UAPA citing lack of supporting evidences.[5]
MGP
  • In October 2018, in the context of ban on the Sanstha, Former PWD Minister of Goa Sudin Dhavalikar lauded Sanatan Sanstha in an interview saying, "Sanatan (Sanstha) is doing the great work of spreading Hindu culture and religion in Goa. They don't believe in violence."[126]
  • In September 2015, Goa minister Deepak Dhavalikar came out in support of Sanatan Sanstha saying that he had been closely monitoring the activities of the Sanstha but never found it to preach violence. He further added, "Sanatan Sanstha works for spirituality and the propagation of Hindu religion."[127][128]
Shiv Sena
  • In September 2015, Shiv Sena refuted the demand to ban Sanatan Sanstha by claiming that such allegations are the efforts to defame organisations who are engaged in spreading Hinduism.[28][129][130]
Others
  • On 7 February 2017, while clarifying its stance on the petition seeking a ban on Sanatan Sanstha, the Union Government told the Bombay High Court that the evidence against Sanatan Sanstha was inconclusive.  Hence, it did not declare the Sanstha as a terror outfit.[131]

References

  1. ^ Krishna Kumar (15 September 2017). "Gauri Lankesh murder: SIT probing Sanatan Sanstha angle". The Economic Times.
  2. ^ Rashmi Rajput (17 September 2015). "Set up as spiritual outfit, Sanatan Sanstha first made news through blasts". Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  3. ^ "An NGO that aims to 'reinstate divine kingdom': All you need to know about Sanatan Sanstha". 14 June 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Spirituality, Spiritual Practice". Sanatan.org. Sanatan Sanstha. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b Vijaita Singh; Vikas Pathak (3 April 2016). "Understanding the Sanatan Sanstha". thehindu.com. The Hindu. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Prasad, Pallavi (12 April 2018). "The Sanatan Sanstha: Of Spirituality and Pseudo-Science". The Quint. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Sanatan Sanstha and HJS start online satsang series". Times of India. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b Singh, Atul (3 April 2021). "हिंदू जनजागृति समिति का कृतज्ञता सप्ताह शुरू, 10 अप्रैल तक चलेगा सप्ताह". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b Ranjan, Rakesh (13 October 2021). "सनातन संस्था ने निकाले ऐसे ग्रंथ जिसमें धर्म-अध्यात्म की सारी जिज्ञासा का समाधान". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  10. ^ "'Hindu Adhiveshan' to be held at Goa from June 14 to 17". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  11. ^ D’Mello, Pamela (18 June 2017). "'Establish a Hindu Rashtra by 2023': What 132 Right-Wing Hindu organisations demanded in Goa". Scroll.in. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  12. ^ "HJS,Sanatan Sanstha,local organizations undertake relief-drive for fflood-affected people of Chiplun". United News of India. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  13. ^ "पूरग्रस्तांना साहाय्य करण्यात ठिकठिकाणी हिंदु जनजागृती समिती, सनातन संस्था यांचाही सक्रीय सहभाग !". www.frontpage.ind.in. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Social bodies mark Holi with a difference". The Times of India. 18 March 2003. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Sanatan seeks ban on paper mache Ganpati". Afternoon Voice. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  16. ^ "In fact: History, background of Sanatan Sanstha's war on 'evildoers'". The Indian Express. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  17. ^ a b Rana Ayyub (3 October 2015). "Why investigating agencies believe Sanatan Sanstha is behind Dabholkar and Pansare's murder". Dailyo.in. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  18. ^ Aug 25, ByArchana MoreArchana More / Updated. "Clear hand of Sanatan Sanstha in all three cases: SPP Nimbalkar". Pune Mirror.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Herald: Unanimous demand at Ramnathi to impose ban on Sanatan Sanstha". Herald Goa. 12 October 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  20. ^ a b "MoS Ranjit Patil refuses to blame Sameer Gaikwad". The Asian Age. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  21. ^ Mohammed, Akram (16 October 2015). "CID officer: Don't see Gaikwad link in Kalburgi case, won't seek custody". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 3 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar rules our Sanatan Sanstha ban". Times of India. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  23. ^ a b "No strong evidence against Sanatan Sanstha, says BJP leader RK Singh". Ibnlive.com. News18. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  24. ^ a b c "Murders of Pansare, Kalburgi, Dabholkar not linked: Govt". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Times of India. TNN. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  25. ^ a b "Narendra Dabholkar's family accuses Kiren Rijiju of misleading Parliament". Ndtv.com. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  26. ^ a b Megha Pansare (14 December 2015). "Unholy nexus: Dabholkar-Pansare-Kalburgi murders". Newsclick.in. NewsClick. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  27. ^ a b "STUCK IN RED TAPE, FORENSIC SAMPLES YET TO BE SENT BY CBI TO SCOTLAND YARD". Pune Mirror. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  28. ^ a b c Correspondents, HT (21 September 2015). "Pansare murder: Shiv Sena backs Sanatan Sanstha, slams 'liberals'". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 August 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  29. ^ a b Maad, Govind (24 September 2015). "Sanatan Sanstha founder's path: Atheist to guru". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Inspiration Source of 'Upasana' – Paratpar Guru Dr. Jayant Athavale". Vedic Upasana Peeth. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  31. ^ a b Scroll Staff (14 December 2021). "Facebook did not ban Bajrang Dal due to concern for employees' safety, business prospects: Report". Scroll.in. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Why Facebook is on the fence about banning Bajrang Dal". Deccan Herald. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  33. ^ a b Gupta, Sonal; Goel, Kritika (20 December 2020). "Hate & Misinformation – Inside Bajrang Dal Pages on Facebook". TheQuint. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  34. ^ Matharu, Sonal (9 February 2019). "Sanatan Sanstha: A Hypnotic Attraction". Firstpost. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  35. ^ a b c d Nandakumar, Prathima (9 September 2018). "Spiritual puzzle". The Week. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  36. ^ a b "Sanatan Sanstha: Hardline Hindu in thought, violent in action". The Indian Express. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  37. ^ Mohan, Siddhant (14 September 2017). "National Book Trust organizes book fair themed 'Hindutva' in Varanasi". Sabrangindia.in. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  38. ^ "कौन चलाता है 'सनातन संस्था', जिसे ATS ने बताया आतंकी संगठन". news18. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Sanatan Sanstha: The Charitable Organisation Whose Members Were Arrested For Dabholkar's Murder". www.news18.com. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  40. ^ "From fringes to forefront: The rise of Sanatan Sanstha". Hindustan Times. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  41. ^ "How Political Patronage Has Kept the Sanatan Sanstha Afloat in Goa". The Wire. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  42. ^ Dhanbad, Hindustan Team (28 July 2018). "सनातन संस्था ने गुरु पूर्णिमा महोत्सव मनाया". livehindustan.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  43. ^ "सनातन संस्था ने देश में 123 स्थानों पर की गुरु पूजा". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  44. ^ "गुरु पूर्णिमा पर सनातन संस्था ने लिया हिन्दू राष्ट्र की स्थापना का संकल्प". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  45. ^ "Drive against pollution of Khadakwasla dam waters". The Times of India. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  46. ^ Mateen Hafeez (20 September 2011). "ATS will appeal in blasts case". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012.
  47. ^ "Court accepts charges in Thane blast case". The Indian Express. 18 January 2009.
  48. ^ "Theatre blast convicts get 10 years in jail". The Hindu. 30 August 2011.
  49. ^ "Thane blast: Terror charge falls flat". The Times of India. 10 September 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014.
  50. ^ "Court clears '08 blast convicts of terror charges". The Indian Express. 10 September 2011.
  51. ^ a b c "Why the debate over the Sanatan Sanstha ban diverts from the real questions". Ndtv.com. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  52. ^ Singh, Vijay (12 March 2011). "Sanatan Sanstha to fight state ban". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  53. ^ "Ban Sanatan Sanstha: Maharashtra to Centre". The Indian Express. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  54. ^ "Sanatan Sanstha to go among people to allay 'misunderstanding' - News". Mid-day.com. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  55. ^ "Theatre blast convicts get 10 years in jail". The Hindu. 31 August 2011.
  56. ^ "Two get 10 years in jail for Thane blasts". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012.
  57. ^ Rebecca Samervel (31 August 2011). "10-yr jail term for 2 Thane blast convicts". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011.
  58. ^ "Bombay HC grants bail to accused in Thane theatre blast case". www.indlawnews.com. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  59. ^ "Right wing member gets bail in 2008 Thane blasts case". www.tehelka.com. 8 May 2013.
  60. ^ "Court acquits Sanatan Sanstha members in 2009 Goa blast". Deccan Herald. 1 January 2014.
  61. ^ "2009 Goa blast: court acquits Sanatan Sanstha members". The Hindu. 1 January 2014.
  62. ^ a b "Goa: Ramnathi villagers seek ban on Sanatan Sanstha - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  63. ^ "Bombay HC upholds acquittal of six persons linked to Sanatan Sanstha in 2009 Goa blast". Hindustan Times. 19 September 2020.
  64. ^ "Verdict proves our innocence: Sanstha". Times Of India. 20 September 2020.
  65. ^ "HC cites sketchy evidence to uphold acquittal of 2009 Goa bomb blast accused". Hindustan Times. 20 September 2020.
  66. ^ "Govind Pansare Murder Case: Kolhapur Court Grants Bail to 'Key Conspirator' Virendra Tawde". The Wire. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  67. ^ "Accused Samir Gaikwad gets bail". Pune Mirror. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  68. ^ a b "Ban Sanatan Sanstha, Demands Goa BJP Lawmaker Vishnu Wagh". Ndtv.com. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  69. ^ "Pansare killing- Gaikwad was in Thane around time of murder, phone records suggest complicity: Prosecution". The Indian Express. 24 September 2015.
  70. ^ "Pansare murder Chargesheet: 'Teen saw Sanatan member on crime spot'". The Indian Express. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  71. ^ Vijay Kumar Yadav (14 June 2016). "Sanatan Sanstha wanted to raise army of 15,000 to target 'anti-Hindus'". Mid-day.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  72. ^ "Three years after Dabholkar's murder, CBI arrests Sanatan Sanstha member". Deccanchronicle.com. PTI. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  73. ^ "All eyes on Sanatan Sanstha after ENT specialist's arrest". Goan Connection. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  74. ^ "Sanatan Sanstha men talked arms in emails: CBI - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  75. ^ "Dabholkar murder case: Bail pleas of Tawade and Bhave denied". The Indian Express. 16 September 2020.
  76. ^ "Vikram Bhave, accused in Dabholkar murder case, granted bail by HC". Hindustan Times. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  77. ^ "Dabholkar murder case: Court nod for framing of murder and terrorism charges against four". The Indian Express. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  78. ^ Leader, The Weekend. "Dabholkar case: Court to frame charges against 5 Sanatan Sanstha activists". www.theweekendleader.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  79. ^ Krishna Kumar (15 September 2017). "Gauri Lankesh murder: SIT probing Sanatan Sanstha angle". India Times.
  80. ^ "Forensic analysis finds same gun used to kill Gauri Lankesh and M.M. Kalburgi". The Wire. 14 September 2017.
  81. ^ T.A. Johnson (14 September 2017). "Gun used to kill Gauri Lankesh is the same one that killed M M Kalburgi: forensics". Indian Express.
  82. ^ Prakash Kamat (16 September 2017). "Sanatan denies hand in Gauri Lankesh murder".
  83. ^ Hindustan Times
  84. ^ "Gauri Lankesh killing: 4 murders, 2 suspected firearms and a forensic effort to join the dots". 21 September 2017.
  85. ^ "PIL seeks ban on Sanatan Sanstha". Mumbai: Dnaindia.com. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  86. ^ "Move to ban Sanatan Sanstha pending with Centre: ATS". Indian Express. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  87. ^ "Sanatan Sanstha in crosshairs, Dabholkar aides want no misfire". The Indian Express. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  88. ^ Tare, Kiran (10 August 2018). "ATS recovers explosives from Sanatan Sanstha worker Vaibhav Raut's residence". India Today. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  89. ^ "Maharashtra ATS arrests 3, including Sanatan Sanstha associate, recovers crude bombs, gelatin sticks, explosive powder - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com.
  90. ^ Nair, Sandhya (10 August 2018). "ATS raids home of Sanatan Sanstha member in Nalasopara". TOI. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  91. ^ Press Trust of India (21 August 2018). "Explosives case: Sanatan chief may be questioned: Police". Press Trust of India – via Business Standard.
  92. ^ "'Lord Will Provide Weapon at Right Time': Straight Out of Sanatan Sanstha's Terror 'Handbook'". news18.com. CNN-News18. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  93. ^ "'Drugs' found at Sanatan ashram". Asianage.com. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  94. ^ "पेज ब्लॉक केल्यामुळे सनातन संस्थेची फेसबुक विरोधात हायकोर्टात याचिका". loksatta (in Marathi). 18 June 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  95. ^ Express News Service (18 June 2021). "Sanathan Sanstha moves High Court over Facebook block on pages". The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  96. ^ Vidya (13 July 2021). "Bombay HC rejects Sanatan Sanstha plea against Facebook block on its pages". India Today. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  97. ^ Purnell, Jeff Horwitz and Newley (13 December 2020). "WSJ News Exclusive, In India, Facebook Fears Crackdown on Hate Groups Could Backfire on Its Staff". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  98. ^ "Facebook Went Soft On Bajrang Dal To Protect Business, Staff: Report". NDTV.com. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  99. ^ Jan 23, टाइम्स न्यूज़ नेटवर्क / TNN /. "Sanatan Sanstha gets notice over hill-cutting | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  100. ^ "Tension at Bandora as Bokadbag locals protest entry of Sanatan members to hilly residential area". oHeraldo.
  101. ^ "Like SIMI, ban Sanatan Sanstha for 'creating terror', says Goa BJP MLA - Times of India". The Times of India. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  102. ^ a b c "If proof found against Sanatan Sanstha, will act on it: Devendra Fadnavis". The Indian Express. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  103. ^ "Sanatan Sanstha behind free-thinkers murders, should be banned: AAP". Thestatesman.com. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  104. ^ "Pansare case: Cong, NCP demand ban on Sanatan Sanstha". Oneindia. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  105. ^ "Rationalist murder cases: NCP wants ban on Sanatan Sanstha | mumbai". Hindustan Times. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  106. ^ "Sanatan Sanstha is a terrorist organization, should be immediately banned: NCP, Video Gallery". Business Standard India. Business Standard. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  107. ^ "Sanatan Sanstha is a 'dangerous' organisation, says former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan". Firstpost. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  108. ^ "Maharashtra: Cong MP urges CM Uddhav to ban Sanatan Sanstha". The Indian Express. 5 December 2019.
  109. ^ "Gauri Lankesh murder: Left sees pattern in murders, calls for Sanstha's ban". The Indian Express. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  110. ^ "Maharashtra seeks ban on right wing Sanatan Sanstha, sends proposal to Centre | india-news". Hindustan Times. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  111. ^ "Minister: proposal to ban Sanatan Sanstha pending with Centre". The Hindu. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  112. ^ "In proposal to Centre, Maharashtra govt had recommended ban on Sanatan Sanstha: Minister to House". The Indian Express. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  113. ^ "Maharashtra govt pushes for ban on Sanatan Sanstha".
  114. ^ "SP, Congress reiterate demand to ban Sanatan Sanstha". The Statesman. 21 August 2018.
  115. ^ "Sambhaji Brigade accuses Sanatan Sanstha of conspiracy, murder". Afternoondc.in. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  116. ^ "Ban Sanatan Sanstha". Facebook. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  117. ^ "Ban Sanatan Sanstha: Govind Pansare's Daughter". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  118. ^ Shoaib Daniyal (21 June 2016). "The Daily Fix: As terror charges against Sanatan Sanstha grow, why isn't the government banning it?". Scroll.in. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  119. ^ Aakash Joshi (21 June 2016). "Sanatan Sanstha vs SIMI: What Is the Litmus Test for a Ban?". The Quint. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  120. ^ "Pressure mounts on BJP to ban Sanatan Sanstha after arrest in Dabholkar murder case". TwoCircles.net. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  121. ^ "Goa village where Sanatan Sanstha is headquartered wants it banned, gives CM a week : India, News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  122. ^ Gujarathi, Unmesh (24 December 2021). "BASELESS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST "SANATAN SANSTHA". Sprouts News. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  123. ^ Pande, Avinash (25 December 2021). "Mumbai News: 'सनातन पर प्रतिबंध, तो रजा अकादमी पर चुप्पी क्यों?' लोढा ने सरकार से पूछा". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  124. ^ "Maha: BJP MLA says restrictions imposed for Navratri, Ganesh festival but not for Friday namaz". ThePrint. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  125. ^ "Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar rules our Sanatan Sanstha ban". The Times Of India. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  126. ^ Ganapatye, Mayuresh (10 October 2018). "Goa minister Sudin Dhavalikar defends Sanatan Sanstha". India Today. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  127. ^ "How Political Patronage Has Kept the Sanatan Sanstha Afloat in Goa". The Wire. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  128. ^ "Goa minister Dipak Dhavalikar defends Sanatan Sanstha; says his wife found peace there". Economic Times. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  129. ^ Correspondent, dna (4 October 2015). "Shiv Sena comes out in support of Sanatan Sanstha". DNA India. Retrieved 24 August 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  130. ^ Banerjee, Shoumojit (21 September 2015). "Pansare murder: Sena mocks calls for ban on Sanatan Sanstha". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  131. ^ "Nothing concrete to declare Sanatan Sanstha as terror outfit, Centre tells Bombay High Court". Financial Express. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2022.