BJP MP chargesheeted in RTI activist murder case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday filed a chargesheet against Gujarat parliamentarian Dinu Solanki in the Amit Jethwa murder case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday filed a chargesheet against Gujarat parliamentarian Dinu Solanki in the Amit Jethwa murder case.

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The central agency in November arrested the controversial BJP MP and alleged mining mafioso in connection with the murder of the RTI activist. Jethwa was killed in July 2010 outside the Gujarat high court.

“The chargesheet has been presented in the court and the MP is booked for criminal conspiracy and murder,” a source in the probe agency said, declining to divulge more details.

The CBI is probing the case following the directions of the Gujarat HC, which had slammed the police for “shoddy investigation”. The Gujarat Police had given Solanki, the Junagadh MP, a clean chit.

Disappointed with the police investigation, Jethwa’s father, Bhikabhai, had move the HC and demanded a CBI probe.

In his plea, Bhikabhai had alleged the state police did not probe the case properly and the state government was shielding the BJP MP.

Solanki’s nephew, Shiva, and five others are also accused in the case. Arrested by the Gujarat Police, they are in jail.

A leading RTI activist, Jethwa had launched a campaign against illegal mining in Gir forest, where Solanki and his family members were allegedly involved in the illegal mining of limestone.

Jethwa’s murder had sparked uproar among RTI activists across the country and raised concerns over the safety of whistle-blowers.