New twist! CBI arrests Bhanwari Devi's husband

In a fresh twist in Bhanwari Devi abduction case, the Central Bureau of Investigations on Thursday arrested the husband of the missing nurse after he gave conflicting versions during questioning and remained "un-cooperative".

The arrest of Amar Chand comes as the CBI has now focused attention on his claims and activities on the day Bhanwari Devi went missing three months ago, agency sources said.

Amar Chand had filed a writ petition in the Rajasthan high court alleging that Bhanwari was kidnapped on September 1 at the behest of sacked Rajasthan Minister Mahipal Maderna, who was arrested by the agency last Friday.

The sources said continuous flip-flop by Amar Chand on his claims and his refusal to identify some jewellery of Bhanwari Devi even though his children did so prompted the agency to take him into custody.

"The Central Bureau of Investigation has today arrested husband of Bhanwari Devi in an on-going investigation in a case relating to her alleged abduction. He has been examined by CBI in this connection," CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said in New Delhi.

On Wedmesday, Amar Chand had tried to flee during questioning by CBI by scaling the rear wall of the circuit house at about 6.00 pm but was nabbed by the sleuths.

Earlier on Wednesday, Amar Chand had also moved a fresh application before the CBI court in which he sought to know the progress made so far in tracing his wife.

His counsel Manish Vyas claimed that Amar Chand was being "pressurised unnecessarily" by the CBI.

Meanwhile, Maderna, who was sacked from Ashok Gehlot cabinet in October after his name cropped up in the case, was on Thursday brought to Jodhpur from Delhi by the agency for further questioning in the case.

He was taken to the CBI local office from the airport and would be produced before a CBI court in Jodhpur on Friday following expiry of his custody.

Maderna was taken to Delhi for interrogation on Sunday.

A CD allegedly showing Maderna in compromising position with Bhanwari had come to light after she went missing.

59-year old Maderna, who represents Osian assembly constituency, was arrested on Friday in Jodhpur by the CBI along with Parasram Bishnoi, the brother of Congress MLA Malkhan Singh, after it filed charge sheet against three other arrested accused.

Bhanwari, 36, posted as an auxiliary nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village.