The CBI on Friday arrested former water resources minister in the Rajasthan government, Mahipal Maderna in connection with its probe related to the abduction and suspected murder of Jodhpur’s auxiliary nurse-cum-folk singer Bhanwari Devi, 36.
The agency also arrested Parasram Bishnoi, brother of Congress MLA Malkhan Singh, in connection with the case. Arrests were made hours after the agency filed its chargesheet in the case in a court in Jodhpur, charging three other accused — Shahabuddin, Baldev and Sohan Lal — who are in judicial custody, with entering into the conspiracy to abduct the 36-year-old nurse with an intent to murder her.
The arrests by the CBI were made during their questioning. Both, Mr Maderna and Mr Bishnoi were called for questioning at the Circuit House in Jodhpur on Friday. Mr Maderna reached Circuit House along with his daughter at around 10.30 am. The agency officials arrested them when they failed to satisfactorily reply to the questions put before them, sources said. Mr Maderna, 59, was sacked from the Ashok Gehlot Cabinet on October 16 after his name cropped up in the case.
Both, Mr Madrena and Mr Bishnoi are part of the conspiracy, sources said adding that their role in the crime is being further examined. The agency in its chargesheet, filed before Judge Jagdish Jyani on Friday, named Mr Maderna and absconding suspect Sahiram. In the chargesheet Shahbuddin, Baldev and Sohanlal have been charged with abduction with an intent to kill (Section 364 IPC), criminal conspiracy (120 B) and various sections of the SC, ST Act.
Devi, has been missing since September 1 and her family suspects that she has been murdered. A CD allegedly showing Mr Maderna in compromising position with Bhanwari had come to light after she went missing from Jodhpur’s Bilara area.
Sources in the agency said, “Further investigation is continuing to unearth the larger conspiracy so as to identify the other conspirators and perpetrators of this crime. The agency filed the chargesheet as the 90-day deadline following the arrest of the three accused was about to expire next week.” Shahbuddin, who was absconding, surrendered in Jodhpur in October 22.