Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Equating the case of missing auxiliary nurse midwife Bhanwari Devi with the infamous Aarushi Talwar double murder case, the Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court on Monday slammed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for prolonging its investigation into it.
The court, while asking the CBI to conclude its probe at the earliest, gave it ten days time to submit the status report on or before November 24.
The court expressed its displeasure shortly after the probe agency submitted a report on its probe into alleged kidnapping and suspected murder of Bhanwari Devi before it.
The central probe agency will also resume today the questioning of sacked Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna, who is a key suspect in the case. Maderna had refused to appear before it for questioning on Saturday after he complained of severe chest pain. However, his medical report was found to be normal by the court today.
Bhanwari Devi’s case has unleashed a political storm in the state politics since it involves a number of ministers belonging to the ruling Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot.
On September 26, the Rajasthan government had filed a status report in the Jodhpur High Court on its probe into the suspected kidnapping and murder of Bhanwari Devi.
The government was then instructed by the HC to expedite the investigation into the case.
The court had earlier admitted a habeas corpus petition filed by Bhanwari Devi’s husband and issued notices to the Home Secretary and senior police officers in this connection.
The habeas corpus petition was filed by Amarchand, husband of Bhanwari Devi who went missing on September 1.
Amarchand had alleged involvement of a powerful minister Mahipal Maderana in the disappearance of Devi.
The CBI on October 11 took over probe in the mysterious disappearance case of the nurse .
Bhanwari Devi, 36, was posted as ANM at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village when she went missing.
Congress last week suspended sacked Rajasthan Minister Mahipal Maderna from the primary membership of party for his role in the missing nurse’ abduction case.
Action against Maderna was on the cards with the RPCC contemplating action after a CD purportedly showing him in a compromising position with Bhanwari, an auxilliary nurse, came into public domain. The controversy involving Maderna has hit the Ashok Gehlot government amid calls by opposition BJP for the Chief Minister`s resignation.
A CD purportedly showing Maderna and Malkhan in compromising position with 36-year-old Bhanwari, posted as a nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village, had come to light after she went missing from Jodhpur`s Bilara area on September 1.
With PTI Input
