Thaindian News

Jodhpur, Nov 10 (IANS) Sacked Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna was Thursday quizzed here for about six hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over his alleged involvement in the disappearance of nurse Bhanwari Devi. The questioning may continue Friday.

“The questioning is likely to continue tomorrow (Friday). He has assured us of full cooperation and has given some valuable information regarding the case,” said a CBI official in Delhi.

Maderna was called for questioning at CBI’s local office at 11.30 a.m. and left around 6 p.m.

While the Congress legislator from Osian was being questioned, some TV channels aired a CD allegedly showing him and the missing nurse in a compromising position.

The CBI summoned Maderna for interrogation over his alleged role in Bhanwari’s kidnapping. She went missing Sep 1 before which she was in possession of a CD.

Bhanwari Devi had gone missing from Jodhpur’s Bilara area Sep 1. On Oct 16, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sacked Maderna from the cabinet over allegations that he had a role in her disappearance as she was blackmailing him on the basis of the CD.

Rajasthan’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party called for a transparent investigation into the case.

“This is an issue concerning all. Those who are responsible in this case should be rounded up,” added BJP’s Rajasthan unit president Arun Chaturvedi.

The CBI had also rushed a team to Rajasthan’s Ajmer city following reports that Bhanwari Devi had a bank locker there and the CD could be hidden there.

In one of the two audio clips that surfaced Nov 3-4, Bhanwari Devi was allegedly heard saying that a CD was hidden in a bank locker in Ajmer.