Thaindian News

Jodhpur, Oct 11 (IANS) The Rajasthan High Court Tuesday asked police to submit every alternative day the investigation report in the case of missing nurse Bhanwari Devi, who allegedly figured on a CD in a compromising situation with a state minister, a lawyer said.

The direction came after the court observed that the state government had not shown seriousness in tracing the nurse who allegedly featured in a compromising situation with minister Mahipal Maderana.

“Expressing anguish over the slow pace of investigation, the bench of Justice Govind Mathur and Justice N.K. Jain lambasted police for their failure to recover Bhanwari Devi and questioned the motive of the state government to hand over the case to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation),” said Pradhyuman Singh, the prosecution lawyer representing police.

Addressing the allegations of the nurse’s husband Amarchand, the court asked police why the role of the cabinet minister has not been probed properly in the matter.

The Court earlier told the police to make “more serious efforts” in searching for Bhanwari Devi.

The direction was given to Inspector General of Police (Jodhpur) Umesh Mishra, who appearing before the court, claimed that police were doing their best for a breakthrough in the disappearance of Bhanwari Devi.

The additional chief judicial magistrate in Jodhpur on Sep 24 directed police to include Maderna as an accused and probe his role under sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

Police have also arrested a government contractor from Jodhpur’s Bilada area. They had also detained three youths from Sikar district, but let them off due to lack of evidence.

During interrogation, the name of Shahbuddin, a resident of Pipad area here and a mechanic by profession, also came up. An officer said he is suspected to be the key link who can lead the police to the woman, but he has not yet been traced.

The Rajasthan government has also ordered a CBI probe into the case.

Bhanwari Devi has remained absent from duty since Aug 25. A missing person complaint was lodged by her husband the next day. The complaint was then turned into a kidnapping case.