Kavita murder: No question of resignation

Bulandshahr/Lucknow, Dec 27: With speculation rife over the resignation of the Samajwadi Party (SP) Minister in connection with the controversial Dr Kavita Rani murder case, state Primary Education Minister Kiranpal Singh today said there is no question of him resigning from the State Ministry.

Alleging a conspiracy against him for dragging his name in the controversy, Mr Singh told UNI at Bulandshahr that neither he nor any of his family member was involved in the case.

''It is a conspiracy hactched by some vested forces to malign my image before the Assembly polls,'' he claimed.

Announcing that he will hold a public rally at Agota, his assembly constituency in Bulandshahr on December 31 to reply the conspiracy, he said ''if during the rally, people demand my resignation, I will give it happily.'' Reiterating that he had never met Kavita, the Minister added police investigation had also revealed that his name was dragged by some vested forces only for some political gains.

Yesterday, UP Minister of State for Food-Processing Babulal, a Rashtriya Lok Dal member, resigned from the Mulayam Singh Yadav governemnt after his name was linked to the case.

The RLD Minister's name was dragged in the controversial Kavita Rani murder case after a diary of the deceased read he had phoned her over 53 times on October 23, while she was missing.

Former UP Irrigation Minister Merajuddin Ahmed had also quit the party and its executive on Monday last.

With the state government refusing to accept the demand of the people and opposition parties for ordering a CBI probe, the Meerut police was yet to recover the body of Kavita to prove that she had been murdered.

An angry mob took to the streets in Bulandshahr and shouted yesterday anti-government slogans, demanding stringent action against the accused in the Kavita's murder. They had blocked roads at several places that caused traffic snarl for a couple of hours.

However, the mob was pacified only after senior officials, who had reached the spot, assured them of quick action against those involved in the crime.

Meanwhile, Kavita's brother Satish alleged that the ''Meerut Police is working ''under pressure''. ''It is hand-in-glove with the culprits. I am not sure whether my sister is alive, but I am sure that she was not killed on October 24,'' he charged.

''Kavita had called me on December 7. She was scared and the phone got disconnected while the conversation was on. Now, I am waiting for a CBI probe into the case,'' he maintained.

Satish said he had handed over a memorandum for Governor T V Rajeshwar to Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

The police confirmed Kavita's murder on Monday, while Ravindra Pradhan -- the main accused had surrendered before a Noida-based news channel on Sunday morning. A case had been registered against three other accused-- Sundar, Harendra and Trilok Pradhan--and efforts are on to nab the trio. Trilok had also surrender in New Delhi last night.

On interrogation, Ravindra had alleged that Kavita had intimate relations with several influential people, including former UP Irrigation Minister Merajuddin Ahmed and other Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leaders.

''She allegedly used to make pornographic CDs and blackmail the leaders. The lecturer had prepared CDs of some Ministers and managed to get Rs 35 lakh from them,'' he alleged.

On October 23, Ravindra claimed, he along with Kavita had come to Ghaziabad from Hapur in Yogesh's car and stayed at an educational institute while Yogesh stayed at his sister's house.'' Next day, the duo took Kavita on their way to Meerut and sedated her before stranglating her to death. They threw the body in Madhya Ganga canal, he said.

While the police is leaving no stone unturned to find the lecturer's body, A money dispute between Kavita and Ravindra was being suspected to be the main reason behind the crime as Ravindra had usurped Kavita's share.

Mystery behind the killing of Kavita two months ago has deepened after her cellphone details and letters proved her proximity with two UP Ministers Kiran Pal and Babulal--both members of Ajit Singh's RLD.

UNI