CBI yet to react on UP's plea to take over Sashi abduction case

Lucknow, Nov 14 (UNI) Even as the Uttar Pradesh government recommended a CBI probe more than a week ago into the Shashi Prasad abduction case in which a ruling BSP MLA is an accused, the central agency is yet to take up the investigations.

A law student, Shashi Prasad of Faizabad went missing on October 22. Vijaysen Yadav, a driver of former UP minister and BSP MLA Anandsen Yadav told police that he had murdered the girl and disposed of her body in Gomti river near Sultanpur. He later changed his stand and claimed that the girl committed suicide by jumping in the river.

After the girl's father alleged that the BSP MLA was involved, Chief Minister Mayawati -- in a bid to avoid a political backlash -- made him resign from her council of ministers on November six. On the same evening, she also recommended a CBI probe.

While on one hand the state officials are awaiting a nod from the central investigating agency on the case, the CBI confirmed that they were yet to recieve any such recommendation. The state home department had sent recommendation for a CBI probe on November seven.

Reports also suggested that the minister had relationship with the LLB third year student, who was aspiring to enter politics.

State Special Secretary (Home) P K Mishra made it clear that as per the rule, UP government would wait for two weeks to receive the reply from the CBI.'' If they fail to reply, then the government will send reminder of the recommendation'', he said.

Meanwhile, CBI sources at the headquarters in New Delhi expressed their ignorance of any recommendation from the UP government to take up the case.

The investigations by the UP police have hit a roadblock as they have failed to recover the body of Shashi. Several teams were sent to fish out the body from the Gomti river, but no result was achieved.

The main accused Vijaysen Yadav is under judicial custody after police interrogated him but the state investigating agency did not interrogate the minister nor any of this close associate in the case so far.

UNI