Bailable warrant issued against former Guj minister in murder case

Porbandar, Mar 30 (UNI) A fast track court here has issued bailable warrants against former Gujarat Irrigation Minister and BJP leader Babubhai Bokhiriya in connection with the Mulubhai Modhvadia murder case.

Porbandar businessman Mulubhai Modhvadia, a close friend of then Leader of the Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Arjun Modhwadia, was murdered in broad daylight in Porbandar on November 15, 2005.

Arjun Modhwadia had earlier, alleged that Bokhiriya had been threatening Mulubhai. He had alleged that it was a ''political murder carried out under Bokhiriya's instructions''.

The widow of the slain businessman, Lakhiben, had earlier filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court and produced a letter purportedly written by her late husband on November 18, 2004, which stated that if he was killed, Bokhiriya, his business rival, should be held responsible.

Bokhiriya was recently released on a bail in a multi-crore illegal mining case.

The fast track court, while issuing the bailable warrants, said Babubhai Bokhiriya should present himself before the Porbandar police on April 8, 2008.

Earlier, police had arrested twelve pepole, including Laxman Bhima, son of notorious criminal Bhima Dula, in the Mulubhai murder case.

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