Jodhpur: CBI on Monday questioned the kin of a
Rajasthan Congress MLA and a suspended policeman in connection
with the disappearance of midwife Bhanwari Devi.
The agency, probing the case, interrogated Indira
Bishnoi, sister of Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, MLA from Luni.
A few audio clips of purported conversation of Bhanwari
Devi with Sohanlal, one of the accused, and Indira Devi,
have come to light.
This was the second time Indira was interrogated by CBI
which had quizzed her on November 3 also.
Indira later told the media that Bhanwari wanted a
"settlement of the deal" with former Water Resources Minister
Mahipal Maderna and she had approached even the Pali MP Badri
Ram Jakhar.
Bhanwari`s husband Amarchand had alleged she was abducted
at the behest of Mahipal Maderna and his associates.
The charges were denied by Maderna who was sacked by
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on October 16.
Indira said she was not aware of the audio clips bearing
her purported voice and claimed to have not met or talked to
Bhanwari Devi for the past one year.
She said that I have nothing to do with the auxilary
nurse`s going missing.
"It is a high-level political conspiracy to implicate me
and my family and to malign the legacy of Ram Singh Bishnoi",
she alleged to the media.
Indira alleged she was being "harassed and victimized by
people with vested interests".
Regarding her contacts with Bhanwari Devi, she said "our
family has a strong political background and politicians have
many contacts, which should not be seen with suspicion".
CBI also called suspended sub inspector Lakha Ram
Choudhary for interrogation.
His name purportedly figures in the purported taped
conversation between Bhanwari Devi and Sohan Lal Bishnoi. His
cell number was also found in the call list of Bhanwari Devi.
Choudhary was the SHO of Osian police station when
Bhanwari Devi went missing and was transferred to Jaisalmer a
few days before his suspension.
CBI has also focused its attention on Sahi Ram Bishnoi
who is absconding and carries a cash reward of Rs. one lakh.
The investigation agency has also filed an application
in the CBI court seeking the court`s permission to declare him
an absconder. He has been termed by the police as a
conspirator in the case police.
Meanwhile, widening his probe, CBI is also investigating
the alleged role of certain IAS and RAS officers in the
Bhanwari Devi disappearance case.
"Role of some government officers who have been in
touch with Bhanwari is also being ascertained by CBI. Their
names cropped up during investigation," said sources privy to
the investigation.
However, they did not disclose the names of the officers.
A CBI spokesman today rejected reports that the agency
had recovered CDs of the missing nurse from a bank locker in
Ajmer.
"The rumour reported in a section of media that CBI has
recovered 150 CDs of Bhanwari Devi in a bank locker are
completely incorrect," the spokesperson said.
PTI
