Thaindian News

Jodhpur, Dec 19 (IANS) Rajasthan Congress legislator Malkhan Singh Bishnoi finally appeared Monday before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in the case of missing nurse Bhanwari Devi after the agency had warned him of arrest for evading interrogation for nine days, said sources.

The CBI was to move a court here Monday for an arrest warrant against Malkhan Singh for not appearing for questioning even after the agency had served four notices on him, but was told he would appear.

“His son conveyed in the morning that he (the legislator) would come for questioning in the evening. So we waited for him. He has arrived at the Circuit House at around 7.15 p.m. and since then his interrogation is going on,” said sources in the CBI.

The CBI Saturday warned the family members of the lawmaker that if Bishnoi did not make himself available for interrogation, an application requesting an arrest warrant against him would be filed in a court here Monday, sources added.

The legislator is alleged to have been close to the nurse, who is missing since Sep 1 and is feared dead.

“The legislator’s sons and other family members were also quizzed about his relations with the missing nurse Monday,” said the sources.

His brother Parasram Bishnoi was arrested Dec 2 along with sacked Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna, who allegedly featured on a CD in a compromising position with the nurse.

The CBI also quizzed Maderna’s wife Leela Maderna at the Circuit House Monday. She was quizzed for about six hours.

The CBI is also trying to trace Bishnoi’s s sister Indra Singh Bishnoi. She was also close to Bhanwari and had earlier claimed that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was aware of the CD showing Maderna and the nurse in a compromising position.

In a CBI charge sheet filed before the court earlier, three men - Shahabuddin, Baliya and Sohanlal - were charged with the abduction of the nurse with an intent to kill and criminal conspiracy.

They were also booked under various sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.