Prime accused in Bhanwari abduction case surrenders

Sahiram Bishnoi,who allegedly masterminded the kidnapping and murder of Bhanwari Devi,surrendered before a CBI court in Jodhpur

Sahiram Bishnoi,who allegedly masterminded the kidnapping and murder of Bhanwari Devi,surrendered before a CBI court in Jodhpur on Friday.

Bishnoi told the court that he was away on a pilgrimage for the last three months,and returned after learning from newspapers that he was wanted by the police. The police had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information about Bishnoi.

He was on a pilgrimage for the past three months and when he learnt that his property was being attached and his family members are being harassed by the CBI,he came back and surrendered,Bishnois counsel Ramavtar Singh Choudhary said.

The CBI has claimed in its preliminary chargesheet that Bishnoi planned Devis abduction on the behest of former minister Mahipal Maderna,who has been arrested and is currently in judicial custody.

Bishnoi and his advocate appeared in the court Friday and Bishnoi was later remanded to CBI custody till January 2, a senior police officer said. Bishnois questioning will prove vital to the case as most of the other accused claim to have acted on his orders.

Shahabuddin and Sohanlal Bishnoi,two of the accused in the case who are in judicial custody,Bishnoi ordered the kidnapping of Devi. And after she was murdered,Devis body was given to Bishnarams gang in Jodhpur. Bishnaram is on the run.

A former deputy district pramukh,Bishnoi is considered close to the Maderna family and is believed to be the link between Devis kidnapping and who ordered it,the officer said.

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Bhanwari,36,a nurse and midwife at a health centre in Jaliwada village,went missing on September 1 soon after a CD purportedly showing her in a compromising position with Maderna surfaced.

The CBI,which took over the investigation from the Rajasthan Police on October 11,has so far arrested Maderna,Congress MLA Malkhan Singh,Bhanwaris husband Amar Chand,Shahbuddin,Baldev and Sohanlal for their alleged role in the kidnapping and murder.

On Friday,soon after Bishnoi surrendered,the CBI court issued arrest warrants against five other accused Indira Bishnoi,the sister of Malkhan Singh; Sohanlals nephew Dinesh and son Pukhraj; Bishnaram gang member Kailash Bishnoi; and Sahiram Bishnois aide Umesh Kareer. With PTI