Jodhpur, Sep 20 (IANS): Rajasthan High Court Tuesday issued notice to the state government seeking details of the investigation so far into the disappearance of a nurse, who allegedly features in a CD showing her in a compromising position with a state minister.
The notice was issued a day after Bhanwari Devi's husband, Amarchand, filed a petition in the court over the failure of the police to trace her.
"A division bench of Justice Sageet Raj Lodha and C.M. Totla, while issuing notice to home secretary, inspector general of police (Jodhpur) and superintendent of police (Jodhpur rural) has asked the investigation officer to be present in court with the case diary on Sep 22," Amarchand, told IANS.
Amarchand, who has threatened self-immolation, said he had to approach the court as police have failed to find Bhanwari Devi, an auxiliary nurse and midwife, even over 20 days after she was reported missing.
The nurse allegedly features in a CD with state Public Health and Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna.
Amarchand, along with several others of his community, assembled at the district collector's office here Monday and staged a one-day sit-in demanding resignation of the minister.
"The politician may influence the investigation into the case," he said.
"I suspect my wife has been killed. If not, she must be recovered soon. I suspect the involvement of the state minister in her kidnapping," Amarchand told reporters here.
"I will set myself on fire in public if the government doesn't take speedy action in the matter," he added.
Police have so far arrested a government contractor from Jodhpur's Bilada area. They had also detained three youths from Sikar district, but let them off due to lack of evidence against them.
"We had arrested Sohanlal Vishnoi from Bilada after it came up that he had asked Bhanwari Devi while she was on her way home from duty Sep 1 to come to a place and then handed her over to a gang of kidnappers," a senior police officer told IANS.
He added that on the basis of mobile call details of Sohanlal and Bhanwari Devi, the three youths were detained from Ramgarh Shekhwati village Sep 12.
"After these detentions, all leads in the case went cold. We approached the court for a polygraph test on the three youths to ascertain who paid them money because they kept on changing their statements, but our request was turned down," said the officer.
During interrogation, the name of Shahbuddin, a resident of Pipad area here and a mechanic by profession, also came up. He is suspected to be the key link who can lead the police to the woman, but he has not yet been traced, the officer said.
Rajasthan Police had Friday announced a cash reward of Rs.2,000 for anyone who gives any clue about the nurse's disappearance.
The Rajasthan government has also ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case.
Maderna claims to have recommended to the state government to order a CBI probe.
"It is obviously a political conspiracy and I am being framed," Maderna told IANS.
"I have not even been named in the FIR (First Information Report) lodged in connection with her kidnapping. My name doesn't figure in the police investigation. It is surprising how these allegations are being levelled against me," he said.
Bhanwari Devi has remained absent from duty since Aug 25. A missing complaint was lodged by her husband the next day. The complaint was then turned into a kidnapping case.
Maderna, the son of prominent Jat community leader Parasram Maderna, represents Osian constituency of Jodhpur in the state assembly.