Prime accused, UP min quizzed by CBI in Kavita Rani murder case

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The prime accused in the Kavita Rani murder case, and former Uttar Pradesh Minister were today questioned in connection with the disappearance and alleged murder of the Meerut University lecturer that raised a political storm last year leading to resignation of two ministers and the questioning of another.

Besides questioning, polygraph tests were also conducted on Ravindra Pradhan and his nephew and coaccused at the CBI headquarters here, according to official sources.

''Both were later brought face-to-face for certain verifications.'' Pradhan, who was arrested from a television studio in Noida in December last, had told the police then that it was a case of sleaze and blackmail, a fight over sharing of money and involved a former minister.

Admitting that he, along with his accomplice, had strangled Kavita Rani following an altercation, Pradhan said they disposed of the body in a canal in Sanauta in Bulandshahr (UP).

Earlier, UP Minister of State for Food Processing Babulal, who belongs to the Rashtriya Lok Dal and is the third minister to be 'summoned' by the CBI, was questioned fo several hours. The interrogation continued till late evening, he added.

Babu Lal, the second minister who had to resign after their names figured in the case, was interrogated by officials of the CBI's Special Crime Branch.

Yesterday, UP Minister for Basic Education Kiran Pal (Samajwadi Party) was questioned for nearly five hours.

Earlier, on February 13 and 14, polygraph tests were conducted on former UP Irrigation Minister (MoS) Merajuddin Ahmed, who belongs to the Rashtriya Lok Dal and had resigned after his name popped up in the scandal, by the CBI.

Meanwhile, sources also said politicians and others whose names have cropped up in the case, including Meerut University Vice-Chancellor R P Singh, would also be soon called to depose before the investigation team.

The disappearance of the 29-year-old temporary lecturer at the Chaudhary Charan Singh University, who was murdered in October, came to light following the arrest of prime accused Ravindra Pradhan.

On December 28 last, Harinder, another accused in the case, had surrendered before the police in Bulandshahr while pleading innocence over his involvement in the abduction and murder of the lecturer.

However, he said he knew prime suspect Ravindra Pradhan for the past seven years.

On December 27, Triloki Singh, 37-year-old associate of prime accused Ravindra Pradhan and headman of Dhanera Kirat village in was arrested in Delhi.

His name figured in several threat letters received by Kavita Rani.

UNI