Jaipur:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will file its second, but most significant, chargesheet in the Bhanwari Devi case at 11 am in Jodhpur today.
Bhanwari went missing from her home near Jodhpur in September amid reports that she was blackmailing Mahipal Maderna, then a minister, with a CD that showed him sharing intimate moments with her. The case was handed over to the CBI in mid-September and Mr Maderna resigned.
The CBI investigation into the case has unravelled a web of politics, sleaze and blackmail. Apart from implicating Mahipal Maderna, the chargesheet will also look at the role of another Congress politician Malkhan Singh who is an MLA from Luni and had a long term relationship with Bhanwari. Malkhan reportedly introduced her to Maderna. Murder charges are likely to be framed against the two politicians.
The investigating agency is also likely to file charges of destruction of evidence against the gang of hit men who reportedly burnt Bhanwari's body in a 30-feet-deep pit and threw her remains into the Rajiv Gandhi lift canal. Bhanwari went missing on September 1 from Bhilada, nearly 200 kilometres away.
While the politicians could be part of the conspiracy to murder, the executors of the crime and those who destroyed evidence are 12 other people including Bhanwari's husband Amarchand who ironically moved the habeas corpus that indicted Mr Maderna and led to the case being handed over to the CBI.
Malkhan Singh and Mr Maderna were arrested a few months ago. They are currently lodged in Jodhpur prison but the CBI wants the politicians to be moved into separate jails. Investigators told a court that both men are powerful people and are influencing witnesses lodged in the same prison. Calling it a "serious allegation", the Rajasthan High Court asked the state government to take action by March 2.
Amarchand, who persuaded the court to file a case of rape and murder against Mr Maderna, has also been arrested for allegedly assisting her abduction.