The CBI on Monday grilled high profile promoters, including one who lives in the Palm Avenue where the Chief Minister does, for the Rizwanur death probe. Apart from the promoters, the central investigating body also interrogated Pradip Todi, Rizwanur’s wife Priyanka’s uncle. Several people that the CBI called on had been left alone by the CID which was entrusted with the investigation by the Chief Minister. The CBI is also likely to fly down computer experts from Delhi to open Rizwanur’s database in the Arena Multimedia Branch in Salt Lake where he used to work as a graphics designer. The copy of the post-mortem report of Rizwanur has been sent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for a thorough study and verification. Pradip Todi, while talking to the media for the first time, claimed that his family was innocent and also urged the media to help the family in crisis.Home secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said at the Writers’ Buildings that the judicial probe will be on along with the CBI probe. “We have interrogated several people, including Ashok Todi, Priyanka’s uncle. We have recorded his statement which will be verified. Our team has a forensic expert who has taken the post-mortem report to AIIMS. The report will be verified and a re-post-mortem considered if necessary. We have taken video clips and photographs of the spot,” said Arun Kumar, joint director, special branch, CBI. When asked if the police officers involved in the case will be interrogated or not, Kumar said, “Everyone will be called in due time and whenever necessary.” Hassan Ali, a resident of Broad Street, Palm Avenue and Abdul Majid, a resident of Samsul Huda Road, both promoters in the city, were interrogated twice by the CBI at the Nizam Palace office over the last two days. According to sources, Abdul Majid, who works with Hassan Ali, visited Rizwanur Rehman’s home at 7B Tiljala Lane thrice after his marriage with Priyanka Todi and allegedly threatened the family. Hassan is a well-known promoter who is close to Ashok Todi and had been asked to interfere in the marraige on behalf of the family. He in turn sent Majid to the Rehman residence. “Majid was ordered by Hassan who worked with Todi. Priyanka also knew the duo and she told us that they were dangerous,” said Jalisur Rehman, the victim’s uncle, at Nizam Palace. “Majid came to our home thrice. He asked us to let Priyanka go home. He told us to take our family to Digha to meet the Todi family, where Priyanka will be handed over to her family. He threatened that if we failed to act in the way directed, we might be harmed. Majid added that Todi was prepared to pay us any amount of money if we let Priyanka go and forgot about the marriage altogether. We told this to the CID but they were not summoned. We gave the same statement to the CBI,” he said. Five uncles of Rizwanur, his brother Rukbanur along with his wife Sajida, the victim’s friends, including radio jockey Rehan Waris, Ashis Das, a resident of Shanti Colony, who first saw the body on the tracks, and others were called to Nizam Palace and interrogated for hours. At the office of the Special Crime Branch of CBI in Salt Lake Pradip Todi was called in and interrogated for over an hour. Later in the evening, Anil Saraogi, family friend of the Todis was also interrogated. “We are innocent. Priyanka and his father are both fine and are now taking rest inside the house. I was called by CBI and asked a number of questions. They also recorded my statement. We want the media’s help and will soon get in touch with them,” said Pradip Todi near the residence of the Todis in CG 235 at Salt Lake.
