New Delhi: CBI will constitute a medical
board to re-examine the circumstances leading to the death of
Swami Nigamanand, who was on hunger strike against illegal
mining, as forensic reports show that he was not poisoned as
initially suspected by the agency.
The decision to constitute a medical board comes as
Central Forensic Science Laboratory is understood to have told
the agency in its viscera examination report that the Swami,
who died in Dehradun on June 13 after a four-month long fast
against illegal mining in Ganga bed in Haridwar, was not
poisoned, CBI sources said here.
When contacted, CBI spokesperson refused to comment on
the development saying the matter is under probe.
The agency had started its probe suspecting that the
36-year-old Swami, who was leading a movement against stone
crushers operating on the bed of river Ganga, was poisoned in
an alleged conspiracy involving the then CMS of the Haridwar
District Hospital, Dr PK Bhatnagar, and the owner of the
Himalaya Stone Crusher, Gyanesh Kumar.
CBI sources had alleged that as part of a conspiracy,
Bhatnagar administered an injection to Swami who slipped into
coma. He was transferred to Himalayan Institute of Medical
Sciences in Dehra Dun where he died on June 13, 2011.
The post-mortem report said Nigamanand died due to coma,
septicaemia and degenerative brain disorder. His viscera was
protected and sent for further examination to CFSL which has
ruled out poisoning aspect.
Nigamnand had undertaken an indefinite fast from February
19 demanding immediate stoppage of illegal quarrying in Ganga.
PTI
