CBI arrests Bhanwari’s husband

A file photo of missing nurse Bhanwari Devi's husband Amar Chand, who was arrested by the CBI on Thursday.

In a fresh twist in Bhanwari Devi abduction case, the CBI on Thursday arrested the husband of the missing nurse after he gave conflicting versions during questioning and remained “un-cooperative”.

The arrest of Amar Chand comes as the CBI has now focussed attention on his claims and activities on the day Ms. Bhanwari Devi went missing three months ago, agency sources said.

Mr. Amar Chand had filed a writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court alleging that Ms. Bhanwari was kidnapped on September 1 at the behest of sacked Rajasthan Minister Mahipal Maderna, who was arrested by the agency last Friday.

The sources said continuous flip-flop by Mr. Amar Chand on his claims and his refusal to identify some jewellery of Ms. Bhanwari Devi even though his children did so prompted the agency to take him into custody.

“The Central Bureau of Investigation has today arrested husband of Ms. Bhanwari Devi in an on-going investigation in a case relating to her alleged abduction. He has been examined by CBI in this connection,” CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said in New Delhi.

Yesterday, Mr. Amar Chand had tried to flee during questioning by CBI by scaling the rear wall of the circuit house at about 6.00 PM but was nabbed by the sleuths.

Earlier yesterday, Mr. Amar Chand had also moved a fresh application before the CBI court in which he sought to know the progress made so far in tracing his wife.

His Counsel Manish Vyas claimed that Amar Chand was being “pressurised unnecessarily” by the CBI.

Meanwhile, Maderna, who was sacked from Ashok Gehlot Cabinet in October after his name cropped up in the case, was today brought here from Delhi by the agency for further questioning in the case.

He was taken to the CBI local office from the airport and would be produced before a CBI court here tomorrow following expiry of his custody.

Mr. Maderna was taken to Delhi for interrogation on Sunday.

A CD allegedly showing Mr. Maderna in compromising position with Ms. Bhanwari had come to light after she went missing.

59-year old Maderna, who represents Osian Assembly constituency, was arrested on Friday in Jodhpur by the CBI along with Parasram Bishnoi, the brother of Congress MLA Malkhan Singh, after it filed charge sheet against three other arrested accused.

Ms. Bhanwari, 36, posted as an auxiliary nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village.