By IANS,
Jodhpur : Sacked Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna was Monday remanded in judicial custody till Dec 24 by a court here in connection with the disappearance of nurse Bhanwari Devi.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presented him in the court of an additional chief judicial magistrate here after he completed the period of custody with the agency.
“He has been remanded in judicial custody,” said a CBI officer who added that the former minister had been quizzed for 10 days by the agency.
“Many new leads have come up after his interrogation. Now we will verify them,” said the officer.
The court had Friday extended the CBI custody of Maderna for three days. Maderna had been taken to the CBI headquarters in New Delhi for interrogation and was brought back last week.
Parasram Bishnoi, the other accused and a Congress legislator’s brother, was also presented in court. He was remanded in judicial custody.
Bhanwari Devi, who is allegedly shown in a compromising position with Maderna in a CD, went missing from Jodhpur Sep 1. On Oct 16, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sacked the minister over allegations that he had a role in her disappearance as she was blackmailing him on the basis of the CD.
CBI arrested Maderna Dec 3 on charges of getting Bhanwari Devi killed. It was alleged that he had hired one Sahi Ram Bishnoi, a small-time politician from Jodhpur, for the job. Sahi Ram then allegedly assigned the task to Shahabuddin, Sohan Lal Bishnoi and Baldev Jaat alias Balia to kidnap the nurse.
In the chargesheet filed before the court earlier, Shahabuddin, Baliya and Sohanlal have been charged under Section 364 (abduction with an intent to kill) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and various sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.