Thaindian News

New Delhi/Jodhpur, Dec 2 (IANS) Former Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna was arrested in Jodhpur in connection with the missing nurse Bhanwari Devi case, the CBI said Friday.

The CBI after presenting him in court may continue to question him.

CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra told IANS in New Delhi: “Mahipal Maderna and Parasram Bishnoi have been arrested.”

Bishnoi is brother of Congress legislator from Luni constituency Malkhan Singh Bishnoi.

The agency had called Parasram Bishnoi along with Maderna for questioning in the day at circuit house in the Jodhpur.

Earlier in the day, the agency filed a charge sheet against three arrested accused persons in a court in Jodhpur.

In the chargesheet filed before the court, Shahabuddin, Baliya and Sohanlal have been charged with Section 364 (abduction with an intent to kill) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code and various sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case.

The agency in the chargesheet alleged that the three arrested accused along with some other unknown persons conspired to abduct Bhanwari Devi to eliminate her.

Bhanwari Devi, 36, went missing Sep 1 before which she was in possession of a CD allegedly showing her and Maderna in a compromising position.

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.

Her husband Amar Chand tried to locate her by making repeated cell phone calls, but she was untraceable.

Chand had also alleged that she was kidnapped at the behest of Maderna, who denied the charge.

The chargesheet was filed as the 90-day deadline following the arrest of the three accused was about to expire. The CBI also sought time to continue investigation.

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