The CBI, probing Bhanwari Devi case, for the first time on Tuesday informed the Rajasthan high court that the 36-year-old auxiliary nurse-cum-folk singer “is no more”. The agency also requested the court to quash the habeas corpus petition filed by her husband Amarchand.
While refusing to quash the petition, the high court asked CBI to produce the final report in the case on February 21.
The agency, which is preparing to file a supplementary chargesheet in the case, on Tuesday intensified its manhunt to nab Indra Bishnoi, sister of former Congress MLA Malkahan Singh.
The agency informed the court that it has almost reached the conclusion in the case and is soon going to file the chargesheet in the case.
Additional advocate general Anand Purohit told the court that corpus is no more so it is not possible to produce her before the court, so there is no relevance of this habeas corpus any more.
He further informed the court that the CBI has invoked Section 302 on the case and is waiting to nab four absconders — Indra Bishnoi, Ashok Bishnoi, Pukh Raj Bishnoi and Dinesh Bishnoi.
Sources said, “The agency’s probe has also revealed that both former Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna and Malkhan Singh allegedly masterminded Bhanwari’s killing. It will be mentioned in the chargesheet”. Probe has also revealed that Bishna Ram, a prime suspect, was promised allegedly by Maderna, of getting over 40 criminal cases quashed against him if he had disposed off the body of Bhanwari Devi.
“Bhanwari was set on fire in the desert near Jodhpur after she was allegedly murdered by a gang headed by Bishna Ram. Bishna Ram, who was carrying a cash reward of `5 lakh on his head, along with his other associates — Kailash Jakhar and Omprakash —burnt Bhanwari’s body after her murder at a spot in Osian village in Jodhpur and then her remains were thrown in a local canal on September 1,” sources said.