CBI questions Mahipa Maderna in Bhanwari Devi case

NEW DELHI: The CBI grilled sacked Rajasthan PHED minister Mahipal Maderna at Jodhpur on Thursday in an attempt to dig out the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of auxiliary nurse-cum-midwife Bhanwari Devi.

The nurse, who has been missing since Septemer 1, is believed to be dead. Maderna, a powerful Jat leader, was accompanied by a couple of his supporters when he arrived at the CBI office in Jodhpur at about 11.15 am. The questioning of the former state minister comes just a day ahead of the Rajasthan High Court’s hearing on a habeas corpus petition filed by Amarchand, husband of 33-year-old Bhanwari Devi.

The case has come as a huge embarrassment to the Ashok Gehlot government, and has added to its credibility-deficit. It was accused of dragging its feet on the demand for sacking Maderna. The HC has asked the CBI to submit the progress report of its probe in the case on November 11.

The court, while hearing the petition filed by Amarchand, had slammed the government for its “escapism” in dealing with the case. Bhanwari Devi was posted as auxiliary nurse at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village, around 120 km from Jodhpur. Her husband has alleged she was abducted at the behest of Maderna, who was sacked after his name along with that of his associates cropped up in the probe.