Maya now blames alcohol

UTTAR Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday said BSP MLA Shekhar Tewari, accused in the murder of PWD executive engineer M K Gupta, could be the victim of a political conspiracy...

UTTAR Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday said BSP MLA Shekhar Tewari, accused in the murder of PWD executive engineer M K Gupta, could be the victim of a political conspiracy.

8220;Tewari is a drunkard and there is suspicion that he was offered alcohol under a political conspiracy and he committed the crime in an inebriated state,8221; said Mayawati. 8220;Moreover the Intelligence Department has told me that the station officer of Dibiyapur has close links with Samajwadi Party leaders,8221; the CM said, hinting that her Government was thinking of conducting narco-tests on both the MLA and station officer Hoshiyar Singh, who is now under suspension.

8220;If a political conspiracy is established, then the opposition parties won8217;t be spared. The Government will bring them to justice8230; We will not allow this issue to cool down, the Government is committed to taking things to their logical conclusion,8221; the CM added.

Rejecting the demand for a CBI inquiry into the case, she said her Government would accept such a demand provided the agency agrees to undertake investigation into the two dozen cases recommended by the state in the last 20 months. She claimed Gupta8217;s family had expressed their satisfaction with the steps taken by her government.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh said the UP Police have not been able to ascertain the identity of Bhatia and Tyagi who were among those who forced their way into Gupta8217;s house and fatally assaulted him. Asked whether the two could be affiliated to the ruling BSP, the DGP replied: 8220;The investigation is on and we are not in a position to make any comment.8221;

The DGP said a team of forensic experts was being dispatched to Auraiya to help the local police. Gupta8217;s wife Shashi had heard her husband address two of the intruders as Bhatia and Tyagi. She also heard her husband asking Bhatia to get him suspended or dismissed, but to spare his life.