Jodhpur:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Malkhan Singh, the MLA from Luni who had been evading CBI questioning, in the Bhanwari Devi case today. Mr Singh earlier today, had voluntarily turned up at the investigating agency's Jodhpur office for questioning.
Considered a key suspect in the case, Mr Singh had earlier said he wasn't well enough for interrogation. The CBI responded by placing it's officers at several showrooms owned by Mr Singh in Jodhpur and the agency has also pasted notices at the home of the MLA.
The latest development in this case comes three days after Bhanwari's husband, Amarchand Nat, allegedly confessed that he was paid Rs 10 lakhs for assisting in the midwife's kidnapping and murder.
The CBI, which is handling the case, filed its status report with the Rajasthan High Court on December 15. Sources say that the investigating agency claims Amarchand Nat has revealed that he was promised Rs 10 lakh by Sohan Lal Vishnoi, the first man arrested in the case.
Bhanwari Devi, a nurse and regular star in folk music videos, was last seen near her home in a village near Jodhpur on September 1. She disappeared amid reports that she was using a sex CD to blackmail Mahipal Maderna, who was a minister in the Congress government at the time. The case has ensnared politicians in Rajasthan, some of who were allegedly involved with Bhanwari.
After Mr Maderna was arrested, he said he was introduced to the nurse by Malkhan Singh. Last week, Amarchand reportedly told the CBI that he believes his youngest child was fathered by Mr Singh.
It was Amarchand who reported his wife missing and then pushed for Mr Maderna to be charged with her rape and murder. But when the CBI began interrogating him, he tried to run away. He was arrested on December 8.