Jaipur:
Bhanwari Devi's husband has allegedly confessed that he was paid ten lakhs for assisting in the midwife's kidnapping and murder. The case has ensnared politicians in Rajasthan, some of who were allegedly involved with Bhanwari.
The CBI, which is handling the case, filed its status report with the Rajasthan High Court today. 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. That day, she told Amarchand that she needed to travel to a nearby town named Bilada. He said he needed to get their car repaired, and asked her to take the bus. She was never seen again. The CBI believes she was kidnapped after she met up with Sohan Lal Vishnoi in Bilada. Inquiries reveal that there was nothing wrong with Amarchand's car.
Bhanwari 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. After Mr Maderna was arrested, he said he was introduced to the nurse by another Congress politician, Malkhan Singh. Earlier this 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.
Mr Maderna is in jail. Malkhan Singh is also considered a key suspect in this case but in recent weeks, he is proving to be uncooperative. He has said he is not well enough for interrogation. The CBI, keen to talk to him, 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 but he continues to skip CBI questioning.