Jodhpur, Nov 8: CBI on Monday questioned the kin of a Rajasthan Congress MLA and a suspended policeman in connection with the disappearance of midwife Bhanwari Devi.
The agency, probing the case, interrogated Indira Bishnoi, sister of Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, MLA from Luni. A few audio clips of purported conversation of Bhanwari Devi with Sohanlal, one of the accused, and Indira Devi, have come to light.
This was the second time Indira was interrogated by CBI which had quizzed her on November 3 also.
Indira later told the the media that Bhanwari wanted a “settlement of the deal” with former Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna and she had approached even the Pali MP Badri Ram Jakhar.
Bhanwari's husband Amarchand had alleged she was abducted at the behest of Mahipal Maderna and his associates. The charges were denied by Maderna who was sacked by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on October 16.
Indira said she was not aware of the audio clips bearing her purported voice and claimed to have not met or talked to Bhanwari Devi for the past one year.
She said that I have nothing to do with the auxilary nurse's going missing.
“It is a high-level political conspiracy to implicate me and my family and to malign the legacy of Ram Singh Bishnoi”, she alleged to the media.
Indira alleged she was being “harassed and victimized by people with vested interests”.
Regarding her contacts with Bhanwari Devi, she said “our family has a strong political background and politicians have many contacts, which should not be seen with suspicion”.
CBI also called suspended sub inspector Lakha Ram Choudhary for interrogation.
His name purportedly figures in the purported taped conversation between Bhanwari Devi and Sohan Lal Bishnoi. His cell number was also found in the call list of Bhanwari Devi. Choudhary was the SHO of Osian police station when Bhanwari Devi went missing and was transferred to Jaisalmer a few days before his suspension.
CBI has also focused its attention on Sahi Ram Bishnoi who is absconding and carries a cash reward of Rs. one lakh. The investigation agency has also filed an application in the CBI court seeking the court's permission to declare him an absconder. He has been termed by the police as a conspirator in the case police.
Meanwhile, widening his probe, CBI is also investigating the alleged role of certain IAS and RAS officers in the Bhanwari Devi disappearance case.
“Role of some government officers who have been in touch with Bhanwari is also being ascertained by CBI. Their names cropped up during investigation,” said sources privy to the investigation.
However, they did not disclose the names of the officers. A CBI spokesman today rejected reports that the agency had recovered CDs of the missing nurse from a bank locker in Ajmer.
“The rumour reported in a section of media that CBI has recovered 150 CDs of Bhanwari Devi in a bank locker are completely incorrect,” the spokesperson said.
