Ex-NCW member claims Vyas hampered Arushi probe; she denies

NEW DELHI: A former member of National Commission for Women (NCW) today alleged that Chairperson Girija Vyas "hampered" the probe into the sensational Aarushi murder case, a claim denied by the latter.

Nirmala Venkitesh, the former member, alleged that Vyas "hampered the investigation of Aarushi murder case".

"By circumstantial evidences, we found that there was some foul play. No action has been taken...we would have helped police in many ways," she claimed.

NCW Legal Advisor Sweety Sood said her duty was to prepare the report and give it to Venkitesh. "Venkitesh was to forward it to Vyas and whether she had done that or not, I don't know."

Vyas denied the allegations, saying "why should I stop? Can anybody believe that Girija Vyas can stop this." She said there should be an inquiry into the Aarushi case.

She also said she had called several meetings on several issues but one could not allege that she convened these meetings to "hamper" the NCW probe into Aarushi case.

Vyas also asked why the member did not raise the issue then "if their conscience was clear".

"They should have written in the report that somebody has stopped them and that's why they stopped," Vyas said.