Jaipur, Sep 15: Rajasthan's Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna is under a cloud after an ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife) Bhanwari Devi, said to be close to him, has disappeared for the last two weeks. The embattled state government has decided to recommend the probe to CBI.
Bhanwari Devi had claimed six months ago that she had a damning CD involving some ruling party politicians. She was an aspirant for Assembly ticket from Congress in the last elections but failed to get nomination. Bhanwari Devi is also a singer and is said to be close to several politicians.
State Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal told mediapersons on Wednesday night that he had spoken to Maderna, who said, he had no objection to a CBI probe.
The decision to hand over the probe to CBI was taken on Wednesday night at a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Dhariwal said.
36-year old Bhanwari Devi was posted as ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) at Jaliwada village in Jodhpur district. She has been missing since September 1 and her husband Amarchand has alleged that she was abducted at the behest of state Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna and his associates.
Dhariwal said he spoke to Maderna before the meeting and told him that he was being accused of abduction but he refuted the charges and said he was clean and ready to face investigation by any agency.
“The government has decided to hand over the case to CBI. Bhanwari Devi is still missing and her body has not been recovered so far,” Dhariwal said.
Bhanwari Devi was last seen in Sikar, sources said. She was reportedly abducted by a gang which had got the 'supari'(order) for her killing, sources said.
We have sent police to Jhansi and Orai in UP, but nothing has come out so far, Dhariwal said.
The scandalous CD that Bhanwari Devi claimed to have could bring about the downfall of the state government, alleges a BJP MLA Arjun Lal. PTI
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