CBI to make BJP legislator witness in Shehla case

In a turnaround, the CBI is set to make Bhopal BJP legislator Dhruv Narayan Singh a prosecution witness in its probe into the murder of RTI activist Shehla Masood by hired killers in Bhopal in August 2011. Abhishek Sharan reports.

In a turnaround, the CBI is set to make Bhopal BJP legislator Dhruv Narayan Singh a prosecution witness in its probe into the murder of RTI activist Shehla Masood by hired killers in Bhopal in August 2011.

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The CBI had in the past examined Singh as a suspect and conducted a polygraph test on him. Singh was allegedly close to Masood and Zahida Parvez, an interior designer, who masterminded her murder. "Our probe has concluded that DN Singh had no role in the murder," said a CBI source.

"We have asked him if he can become a witness. Singh was reluctant but accepted our request," said the source.

In February, the agency had grilled Parvez and co-accused Saba Farooqui to verify their "allegations regarding Singh's involvement in the crime but found that they were not backed by facts," said the source.

The CBI had filed the case chargesheet in May 2012, naming five accused - including Parvez, Farooqui along with three killers allegedly hired by the former to kill Masood - due to suspicions that she was getting close to Singh. "The agency will now inform the court that the probe has been completed," said the source.