The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday has arrested senior BJP leader and former minister Rajendra Rathore for his role in the alleged fake encounter of Dara Singh, alias Daria. The BJP reacted sharply and said it was an example of misuse of the agency.
Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and state BJP chief Arun Chaturvedi said the BJP would stand by Rathore. “We see how the CBI has been misused in states like Gujarat and other states,” Ms Raje said. Mr Rathore is considered close to Ms Raje and has served as public works minister in the previous BJP regime. The alleged fake encounter took place in the year 2006 on the outskirts of Jaipur when the BJP was in power and the police gunned down Dara Singh, who was involved in liquor smuggling. Dara Singh’s widow Sushila filed a petition before the Supreme Court and requested for a probe. The apex court ordered a CBI inquiry in the incident.
The CBI had arrested more than a dozen policemen, including two IPS officers — A.K. Jain and A. Ponnuchami — for their alleged involvement in the fake encounter. The CBI investigated that Dara Singh was taken into illegal custody by the police officials in Jaipur and the encounter was stage managed.
According to the CBI chargesheet, Dara Singh was kept hostage and killed in a planned manner on October 23, 2006.
BJP leaders accompanied Rathore when he proceeded from the BJP office to the CBI office in Jaipur.
The party workers shouted slogans against the CBI and protested out side the CBI office.