Stating that whatever action has been taken against Sanatan Sanstha was taken after his Government came into power, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the subject of the banning of any such organisation falls under the purview of the Central Government.

"The proposal to ban Sanatan Sanstha was sent by the earlier state government and it is pending before the Central Government," Fadnavis said in the Maharashtra Assembly while replying to a resolution moved by the Opposition on the final day of the winter session.

Opposition MLAs including the leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal had raised the issue of alleged involvement of Sanatan Sanstha members in disruptive activities, including the murder of rationalists.  

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a supplementary charge sheet against five of the six accused arrested in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case earlier this month and told a Pune court that the alleged Sanatan Sanstha members tried to create "terror" in society and among social activists.

Vikhe-Patil pointed out that despite CBI stating the involvement of Sanatan Sanstha in such activities, the government had not taken any action.

The leader of Opposition also said that latest supplementary charge sheet filed by Special Investigating Team (SIT) in the murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh also states that those who arrested are linked to Sanatan Sanstha and asked why the government was not acting against this organisation?

In response, Fadnavis said that there was no action taken against Sanatan Sanstha during the tenure of the previous Government. He said that whatever action has been taken, it was after he came to power in Maharashtra.

Pointing out that it was Maharashtra ATS which took action and even gave inputs to Karnataka ATS, Fadnavis said that if one wants to give credit regarding action against Sanatan Sanstha, it should be given to Maharashtra ATS and his Government.

He said that as far as banning the organization is concerned, it is the prerogative of the Union Government. He said that his government would not spare any organization whether it is right or left when it is involved in such activities.

Earlier this month, the CBI told a court in Pune that it invoked terror charges against the accused in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case, who allegedly belonged to Sanatan Sanstha, as the crime was committed to create "terror" in society and among social activists.

"Section 15 is invoked because the murder...was committed to create fear, terror in society, and in the minds of people, and intimidate a section of society, social activists," it said in a supplementary charge sheet against five of the six accused arrested in the case, adding that the murder was "well-planned and premeditated".