Bhanwari Devi case: Key accused arrested

In the first major breakthrough in the Bhanwari Devi case,the Jodhpur police on Friday arrested Baldev Ram,one of the three key accused,from Kaparda village near Jodhpur. The police now hope to unravel the mystery and motive behind her disappearance on September 1,in which state Cabinet minister Mahipal Maderna is an accused.

Devi,an Auxilliary Nurse Midwife,went missing after allegations that she possessed a video recording of Rajasthan PHED minister Mahipal Maderna and her in a compromising position. On September 23,a lower court in Bhilada in Jodhpur district ordered that Madernas name be included in the FIR already registered.

Jodhpur Inspector General of Police IGP Umesh Mishra confirmed Baldev Rams arrest.

We arrested Baldev Ram alias Baliya from near Kaparda village on Friday afternoon and this is a major breakthrough. From the beginning we have believed that Ram along with two others were behind Devis kidnapping, Mishra said. He added that Ram would be produced in court on Saturday for police remand. Earlier,the police had arrested Sohan Lal Bishnoi,a PHED contractor and considered close to Maderna,who was last seen with Devi in Bhilada town near Jodhpur.