Bhanwari Devi case: After explosive revelations, will Maderna finally be arrested?

Jodhpur: After Maderna admitted his links with the missing ANM Bhanwari Devi on Thursday, will CBI seek arrest warrant against the former Rajasthan minister? Sacked Rajasthan Minister Mahipal Maderna was on Friday being quizzed by the CBI once again, a day after he admitted his alleged links with missing nurse Bhanwari Devi. Maderna’s wife Lila Maderna and Congress MLA from Looni Malkhan Singh Vsihnoi are also being questioned by the CBI.

The CBI filed a status report in Rajasthan High Court on Friday naming Mahipal Maderna as one the accused in the Bhanwari Devi missing case.  The court was hearing a habeas corpus filed by Bhanwari’s husband Amarchand who has alleged that the nurse was abducted at the behest of Maderna.

On Thursday, Maderna admitted his links with the missing ANM (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife) after CBI interrogated him for six hours. The controversial CD came to public eyes on Thursday and CBI claimed they had the CD in their possession. Sources said since the CD was already in public being run on most TV channels on Thursday, Maderna had little choice but to admit his links with the missing ANM.

CBI quizzed both the accused Maderna and Malkhan Singh together. Maderna alleged that Malkhan had introduced him to the minister but sources said Malkhan and Maderna argued with each other on the issue during the interrogation.

Meanwhile, the Jodhpur bench of Rajasthan High Court has ordered forensic tests on Maderna’s aides. The bench ruled while hearing a CBI petition filed seeking a search warranty for Malkhan Singh’s residence. The bench also consented to brain mapping being conducted on Sohanlal, another accused in the Bhanwari Devi case.

Bhanwari devi has been missing since September 1 and CBI have gathered several phone records and other evidences in the case. CBI, in a bid to ensure Bhanwari’s information, have announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh to any one who brings information on the whereabouts of the missing ANM. The ANM is believed to have been blackmailing ministers for the controversial CD. Bhanwari was posted as auxiliary nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village, around 120 km from Jodhpur.

CBI has seized a camcorder and a computer which may be holding vital clues about her disappearance and the agency has sought help of Central Forensic Science Laboratory as well as private experts to retrieve the data.

Officials suspect that the camera and computer might have been used to film and store some controversial footage which could hold vital clues about the reasons behind the disappearance of Bhanwari.

The CBI on November 7 had questioned the kin of a Rajasthan Congress MLA and a suspended policeman in connection with the missing of Bhanwari Devi. The agency had 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, had come to light, agency sources said. Indira had alleged that Bhanwari Devi wanted a "settlement" with Maderna and she had approached even Pali MP Badri Ram Jakhar. In New Delhi, the AICC today said the investigations into the case should be allowed to be completed and it will "not go by media trial" on the issue.

"Since there is an on-going investigation and the matter is being probed by CBI, it will be appropriate to allow the investigation to play itself out," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said responding to questions on the issue....