Jodhpur:
Kailash Jakhar, the accused in Bhanwari Devi abduction and murder case, was remanded in 10-day police custody by a local court in Jodhpur today.
Jakhar, who was produced in the court with handcuffs amid tight security, was arrested yesterday after he had escaped from the High Court premises on June 14 with the help of armed assailants who opened fire to help him flee.
Bishna Ram Bishnoi, another accused in the Bhanwari Devi case, was also produced in the court today in connection with another case.
"Now we will interrogate Jakhar by cross-checking and confronting him with both Bishnois. Besides this, the police will continue to arrest all those who were involved in the escape of Jakhar," Police Commissioner Bhupendra Kumar Dak said.
Both Bishna Ram Bishnoi and Om Prakash Bishnoi are under police custody till July 6. Dak said the interrogation of Bishna and his brother Om was a determining factor leading to the arrest of Jakhar. He said both will be questioned to find out if there was any other motive behind the conspiracy of court escape.
Police have so far arrested 15 people in this case who were involved in helping Bishna Ram and Jakhar to flee from the court on June 14.
"But we look forward to more arrests as there were approximately 30 persons involved in Jakhar's court escape bid," Mr Dak said.
Police have announced a cash reward of Rs 1,000 on each of them. According to the police, the assailants tried to help both Bishna Ram and Jakhar to escape from custody but only Jakhar could escape.
Bhanwari Devi, a trained midwife and nurse, went missing in September last year and the remains of her body were discovered by the CBI four months later. The CBI, in its chargesheet, has alleged that former Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna and ex-MLA Malkhan Singh conspired to get rid of the 36-year-old nurse after she began blackmailing them.
Meanwhile, the dilly-dallying approach of Mr Maderna over his recommended surgery has left Jodhpur jail authorities in a fix, with the key accused in Bhanwari Devi case now seeking assurance of his fitness after undergoing operation.
"Instead of clearing his stand, Mr Maderna today asked the jail doctor whether he will be able to move normally after the surgery or not. He has also asked how long he will have to be on bed rest after surgery," jail superintendent AR Nyazi said.
Currently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail, Mr Maderna, who is suffering due to slip disc, has till now refused to undergo operation recommended by a medical board on June 26.
Pointing out that only doctors of the medical board which recommended the surgery can comment on the issue, Mr Nyazi said the jail administration will again have to refer them.
Jodhpur Central Jail authorities had earlier said they would move to court if he continued to refuse to undergo surgery.