By IANS,
Patna : The family of abducted Bihar businessman Satyendra Kumar Singh, who the police say has been killed, has now demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. They have also asked for the arrest of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Vijay Krishna and his son Chanakya, the main accused in the case.
Disappointed after a six-member team of divers from the Indian Navy failed to trace Singh’s body from the Ganga river here in the last two days, his family has demanded a probe by the CBI and sought an appointment with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“We have asked for a CBI probe to know the truth as the police have failed to trace him and are yet to arrest Vijay Krishna and his son Chanakya,” Singh’s elder brother Girish Kumar Singh told IANS here Wednesday.
Singh, a 50-year-old transporter, also associated with the JD-U, was kidnapped in the last week of May from Patna. His wife, Laxmi Devi and daughter Sweety Singh have alleged that Vijay Krishna, a former MP, and his son were directly involved in the kidnapping and demanded they be arrested.
Singh’s wife and daughter, along with other relatives, had met the chief minister last week and sought his help. Sweety too now has pinned all hopes on the central investigating agency.
“Now only a CBI probe can solve the mystery behind the case,” she said.
Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Neelmani had earlier said that Vijay Krishna’s domestic help Gagan Kumar had revealed that Singh was killed the same day he was kidnapped, at an apartment owned by Chanakya, and the body thrown into river Ganga. Gagan also told police that Vijay Krishna was present in the flat at that time.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (town) Sanjay Kumar said the team of Indian Navy divers had failed to trace Singh’s body Monday and Tuesday, but would continue the search operation in the Ganga Wednesday.
The Patna Civil Court Tuesday refused anticipatory bail to Vijay Krishna and his son after hearing their petition. The court also directed the police to submit the diary of the case to the court in the next hearing within 15 days.
The ruling comes as a setback to Vijay Krishna, who was evading arrest in the case and had filed an anticipatory bail petition Monday in the court, claiming he was being falsely implicated. Vijay Krishna and his son reportedly went underground last week after the statements of his arrested driver and guard were recorded in court.
The family of Satyendra Kumar Singh alleged the delay in arresting them was due to “pressure” as the two were considered close to Nitish Kumar.
Patna Superintendent of Police Anwar Hussain denied reports that the police was working under pressure. He said the police had recovered blood-stained clothes and buckets from the flat owned by Vijay Krishna’s son here.