The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested Rajasthan’s sacked cabinet minister Mahipal Maderna in connection with the disappearance case of auxiliary nurse midwife Bhanwari Devi, 36. The CBI also arrested Parasram Bishnoi, brother of Congress MLA from Luni, Malkhan Singh Bishnoi.
The agency had called the duo for questioning at Jodhpur, nearly 350 km from Jaipur, and arrested them in the evening, said a CBI spokesperson. Maderna, 59, had earlier feigned sickness and remained in a Jodhpur hospital for a few days.Suspicion fell on Parasram after it came to light that a call from his wife Kusum’s phone had been made to Bhanwari’s phone at around 4 pm on September 1---the day she got abducted. The CBI has already grilled Kusum in this regard.
Earlier, in the morning, the agency filed its first chargesheet against five persons before additional chief metropolitan magistrate Jagdish Jyani. The chargesheet named Maderna saying inquiry against him was pending. Absconding accused Sahi Ram Bishnoi has also been named.
The agency has charged the other three accused, Shahabuddin, Baldev alias Balia and Sohan Lal, with abduction, intention to kill and criminal conspiracy, and under various sections of the SC, ST Act.
{{/usCountry}}The agency has charged the other three accused, Shahabuddin, Baldev alias Balia and Sohan Lal, with abduction, intention to kill and criminal conspiracy, and under various sections of the SC, ST Act.
{{/usCountry}}All three, who are in judicial custody, were produced before the court for getting their remand extended by two weeks.
Devi had gone missing on September 1 from Bilara area of Jodhpur district. She allegedly possessed a sex CD featuring her in compromising position with Maderna. She allegedly blackmailed the minister and demanded huge money from him. This aspect is being touted as one of the main reasons leading to her disappearance.
Bhanwari's husband Amar Chand had alleged she was kidnapped at the behest of Maderna, who has denied the charge.
The CBI has so far questioned several people, including Malkhan Singh, his brother and sister and, Maderna’s wife Leela Maderna.