Dy minister’s role under govt probe

He said that Das would inquire into both complaints, one lodged by the oil traders with the Vejalpur police and the other by the Civil Supplies officials with the Gandhinagar police.

The minister said he welcomed the inquiry and declared that he would not attend his office in the Sachivalaya till the probe was completed “and the truth came out”.

In a statement here this evening, the minister said, "I believe in upholding high moral values in public life and I also believe that the truth always prevails".

He said traders had lodged a complaint with the Vejalpur police in connection with Thursday’s incident. After reports of the incident were published in parts of the press, the officials lodged a complaint with the Gandhinagar police on Saturday against Chauhan and two traders.

In Vadodara, State Civil Supplies minister Jaspal Singh took serious note of the incident. Though he refused to comment on it without studying the details, Singh told Express Newsline that he would look into the matter on Monday at Gandhinagar. “I would not like to speak against anyone involved — my officials or Chauhan – without finding the truth”, he said.

Meanwhile, superintendent of police, Dahod K L N Rao, who also holds additional charge of SP, Godhra, told Express Newsline that none of the accused had so far been questioned. “The matter is still being looked into”, he said, adding, “the necessary procedure will be followed and action taken in due course of time”.

Highly placed sources in the police informed Express Newsline that there was a likelihood that the matter may be handed over to some other agency like the CID for, there were more than one aspects which involved the incident. “It could be highhandedness of the minister or corrupt bureaucracy”, a senior police officer said.