Bhanwari Devi: CBI fails to get any breakthrough, doubles reward for info

Failing to get any breakthrough in the Bhanwari Devi alleged abduction case, CBI Friday doubled the reward to Rs10 lakh to anyone providing credible information on the missing nurse as it carried out searches at the farms of sacked Minister Mahipal Maderna, a key suspect, and others.

The CBI move comes within a fortnight of announcing a reward of Rs Five lakh on Bhanwari Devi on November 1 even as Rajasthan High Court rapped the agency for the slow pace of investigation in the case.

The reward for information on another suspect Sahiram Bishnoi has also been increased from Rs one lakh to Rs Five Lakh, CBI spokesperson said in Delhi.

"The information may be given at CBI Camp Office, Circuit House, Jodhpur(Rajasthan)on phone numbers: 09530346277, 09530346277, 02912513315,01124368641. The identity of the informer will be kept confidential," she said.

CBI carried out searches at eight locations including the farms of Maderna and Congress MLA Malkhan Singh's brother and sister Parasram Bishnoi and Indira Bishnoi respectively.

Maderna has been questioned by the CBI twice last week. He was admitted to hospital on Saturday where he is undergoing treatment for "marginal blood pressure and mild chest pain".

A CD allegedly showing Maderna and Malkhan in compromising position with 36-year-old Bhanwari, an auxiliary nurse at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village - around 120 km from here, had come to light after which she went missing from Bilara on September 1.

Meanwhile, in a setback to CBI, a court on Tuesday turned down its plea for undertaking narco-analysis, brain mapping and polygraph tests on Shahabuddin, a key accused in the case, despite the agency pleading that it was the "only ray of hope" to crack the case.

The CBI had moved an application in the CBI court for the lie-detection and other tests on November 9, citing Shahabuddin's non-cooperation in investigation.

"The CBI has so far not been able to extract substantial information from him and this is the only ray of hope for it in order to extract some crucial information leading to cracking of the case," CBI counsel S S Yadav argued in the court.

Shahabuddin had surrendered on 22 October and after 15 days of interrogation by CBI, he was sent to judicial custody.

Bhanwari's husband Amarchand had alleged she was abducted at the behest of Maderna.

Sources said it is believed that Bhanwari was introduced to Maderna some years back by Malkhan, who had already admitted to CBI that he knew her.

The agency also searched the farm house and residence of Parasram in Bilara town, 80 km from Jodhpur, CBI sources said.

Parasram was questioned for five hours yesterday by the probe agency at the circuit house here.

The residence of Indira Bishnoi was also searched by the agency from where it is understood to have seized a computer and some CDs, they said.

A bank locker was also searched in Bilara in the presence of Indira and Parasram.

Meanwhile, Rajesh Parihar, who deals with video albums, was questioned by the CBI. He had prepared some folk video albums featuring Bhanwari.