CBI grills former Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee

Kolkata, Nov 6 (UNI) Proceeding further with the investigation into the mysterious death of Rizwanur Rahman, the CBI today grilled former Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee.

This was for the first time that CBI questioned Mr Mukherjee, who, along with four other officers of Kolkata police, was tranferred by the state Government on October 17 for having allegedly interfered in the marriage of Rizwanur, a computer graphics teacher and Priyanka, the daughter of businessman Ashok Todi.

CBI sources said the former Commissioner, now Additional Director General (Telecom) of West Bengal Police, was interrogated by CBI DIG Satish Golcha and SP Zakir Hussain at his office for more than 45 minutes.

''We have interrogated him. But we cannot say anything right now for the sake of the investigation,'' Mr Golcha told reporters.

Earlier, CBI had interrogated former Deputy Commissioners of Police Gyanwant Singh and Ajay Kumar, former Assistant Commissioner Sukanti Chakraborty and former Sub-Inspector of the anti-rowdy section Krishnendu Das allegedly for threatening and harassing Rizwanur on the basis of a complaint by Ashok Todi.

Mr Mukherjee was said to have referred to his subordinate officers the request of the Todi family for interfering into the marriage of Rizwanur and Priyanka.

The body of Rizwanur was found beside the railway tracks on the city's northern fringe on September 21, few days after Priyanka was separated from him by the Todis with the help of police.

Rizwanur's family alleged that the youth, who was under tremendous pressure and threat from both Todis and police, had been murdered.

As his death triggered violence and a public outcry, the former Police Commissioner created a flutter when he tried to defend the role of police.

Yesterday, the CBI interrogated Inspector General of Police (Enforcement) Nazrul Islam in connection with his statement that he was a witness to the alleged threats by a Kolkata police officer to Sadiq, a witness to Rizwanur and Priyanka's marriage.

The IG had told a television channel that Sadiq had received a threat call over mobile from Krishnendu Das, a Sub-Inspector of the anti-rowdy section of Kolkata police, when he was sitting in front of Mr Islam in his chamber.

CBI replaced CID to take up the case following a Calcutta High Court order on October 16 and registered a murder case against Ashok Todi.

The CBI had already questioned almost all the family members of Rizwanur and Ashok Todi, including Priyanka, besides many other people.

According to CBI sources, the probe will now move to Delhi, where Ashok Todi and Priyanka will be called for further interrogation.

UNI