Thaindian News

Jodhpur, Jan 29 (IANS) Six accused in government nurse Bhanwari Devi’s disappearance and killing were collectively quizzed Sunday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a barrack of the Jodhpur Central Jail, informed sources said.

Those who were interrogated include the nurse’s husband Amarchand, Pukhraj Bishnoi, Dinesh Bishnoi and three kidnappers — Sohan Lal, Shahabuddin and Baldev Jat alias Balia, the sources added.

The CBI had taken Pukhraj Bishnoi to the jail Saturday also and quizzed him in front of his father Sohan Lal Bishnoi in a barrack here.

All the six interrogated Sunday were arrested by the CBI for their alleged role in the kidnap and murder of the nurse Sep 1.

“The CBI wants to piece together some missing links in the investigation by jointly interrogating these accused. A court had earlier given the agency the permission for the same,” a source close to the CBI told IANS.

He added that a CBI team took Pukhraj and another accused Dinesh Bishnoi to the Jodhpur Central Jail. Dinesh is Sohan Lal’s nephew.

“Sohan Lal, Shahabuddin, Baldev and Amarchand are in judicial custody and lodged in the jail here, while Pukhraj and Dinesh are in CBI custody,” said the source.

The CBI had arrested Dinesh and Pukhraj Wednesday. Both were presented in the court of the additional chief judicial magistrate here and were remanded in CBI custody till Jan 30.

It is alleged that Shahabuddin, Sohan Lal and Baldev Jat alias Balia kidnapped Bhanwari from Bilara in Jodhpur rural Sep 1, killed her and then handed over her body to a gang of criminals headed by Bishnaram Bishnoi who burnt her to ashes and dumped her remains in a canal.

Bishnaram Bishnoi and his three accomplices, including Kailash Bishnoi, Omprakash Bishnoi and Umesharam Bishnoi, have also been arrested by the CBI.

Bhanwari Devi, allegedly shown in a compromising position with sacked Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna in a CD, had gone missing Sep 1 last year.

The case has seen the arrest of former minister Maderna and Congress legislator from Luni constituency Malkhan Singh.

According to sources close to the CBI, Maderna and Malkhan Singh were hand-in-glove in the entire conspiracy as the nurse was blackmailing both of them.

Maderna was believed to be blackmailed on the basis of a CD showing him in a compromising position with the nurse.

The two politicians allegedly roped in Sahiram Bishnoi, who hired Sohan Lal, Balia and Shahabuddin for the task of kidnapping the nurse.

Maderna, Malkhan, the three kidnappers and Sahiram along with Amarchand, husband of Bhanwari Devi, have been arrested by the CBI.

Amarchand was also arrested on suspicion over his involvement in his wife’s disappearance. The CBI also arrested Malkhan’s brother Parasram Bishnoi.