CBI to question BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay in Shehla Masood murder case

NEW DELHI: The CBI, which had on Saturday registered a case under section 302 of the IPC in the murder of Bhopal-based RTI activist Shehla Masood, is expected to question, among others, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay and party MLA Dhruv Narayan Singh, as part of its investigation.

The investigating agency’s Bhopal unit, which had taken over the case after the Centre forwarded to it a request to that effect from the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, got cracking on the case immediately, registering charges of murder against 'unknown persons.’’

It also appealed to the general public to provide information, if any, relating to the incident. Masood was shot dead on August 16 inBhopal as she moved towards her car outside her residence in Koh-e-Fiza locality.

The state police, which began the probe initially, suspected that she was eliminated by some powerful persons against whom she had filed RTI applications.

They, however, failed to get any substantial leads. With the case getting a political colour after the opposition Congress jumped in to capitalise on the state government’s failure to nab the culprits, Chouhan moved in swiftly to refer it to the CBI.

The probe into Masood’s murder took an interesting turn last week with Vijay's name getting linked to the case. According to Madhya Pradesh Police, records of Masood’s mobile phone showed that she had spoken to the Rajya Sabha member on August 15 and 16, the night before, and the day she was shot dead outside her residence in Bhopal.

Inspector General of Police (Bhopal) Vijay Yadav had told reporters that a police team would go to New Delhi to question Vijay.

Speaking to newspersons here on September 1, Vijay said that Masood through her company, Miracles, had worked for their organisation Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation helping organise events in Srinagar, Kolkata and New Delhi.

“She was a brave RTI activist and a friend who helped tiger conservation and environment protection movement. In fact, the day Anna was arrested, i.e. 16th August, we spoke on the phone in the morning at about 9.30 am about it,’’ he said.