Sharad Pawar backs demand for CBI probe into Gopinath Munde's death

NEW DELHI: NCP chief Sharad Pawar today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a CBI probe into the death of former Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde to bring out the "facts" and assuage the feelings of the BJP leader's supporters.

In a letter to Modi, Pawar said that after the "sad and untimely" demise of Munde, his last rites were performed at Parli, Beed District of Maharashtra yesterday.

"This unfortunate incident (the death) left many a people shocked and dismayed, specially supporters of his constituency," he said.

The former Union Minister noted that Munde's followers have demanded a thorough CBI probe into the accident in Delhi which led to his death. He said the sentiment has also been echoed by Maharashtra BJP President Devendra Phadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

"It is my view that their demand for CBI probe may be considered and accepted by the government as this would bring out the facts and assuage their feelings," he said in his letter.

Munde, a popular backward class leader from Maharashtra, died due to shock and haemorrage following injuries to his neck and liver after a road accident in Delhi on June 3.