'Godmother' Santokben Jadeja questioned in murder, rape case

Rajkot, June 9 (UNI) Junagadh police today questioned Santokben (Godmother) Jadeja, alias for allegedly providing shelter to two people accused of killing a 17-year-old girl and raping another at the Datar shrine on the outskirts of Junagadh city on May 13.

Police Inspector Subhash Rawal told UNI that Santokben Jadeja was brought to Junagadh last night from Rajkot for questioning as she had given shelter to the two accused -- Mohan Hamir and Ramesh alias Bhadu.

Mr Rawal said the police questioned 'Godmother' on the basis of the confession of Savita, the sister of prime accused Mohan Hamir.

Savita was detained by the police recently in connection with the murder and rape incidents. In her confession to the police, Savita said she went to Rajkot on May 16 after she received a telephone call from her brother Mohan. From there, she, accompanied by Mohan and another accused Ramesh, went to Jadeja's bunglow 'Shravan' on Kalavad road area here.

Savita said that her brother and the other accused had confessed before Jadeja that they had committed the crime and wanted shelter as police were after them. Prime accused Mohan has links with Kandhal, the elder son of 'Godmother' as they became friends in 1997 together in jail.

Savita said both the accused were sent to some unknown destination by Jadeja.

Meanwhile, the police said, Santokben Jadeja has denied the charge of giving shelter to the accused. The police have registered an offence against Santokben and her three sons under IPC 212 for giving shelter to the accused.

Special Operation Group (SOG) Police Sub-Inspector N B Chudasma ''grilled'' the Godmother. Further interrogations are on, Mr Rawal said.

Santokben Jadeja has a lot of clout in Saurashtra region, particularly in Porbandar.

Santokben Jadeja, a former Member of Kutiyana Legislative Assembly, was earlier arrested last August in connection with the murder of a BJP councilor from Porbandar in March 2005.

UNI