Mayawati transfers police officials for ''unbiased'' CBI probe

Lucknow, Jun 1 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today transferred the Noida SSP, Meerut DIG and IG to ''facilitate an impartial probe'' by the CBI in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case.

''We have removed the SSP, Gautam Buddha Nagar, DIG Meerut range and IG Meerut Zone and posted new officers so that they do not influence the CBI probe,'' Ms Mayawati said at a press conference here.

Mr R K Chaturvedi is the new SSP of Gautam Buddha Nagar, while the previous SSP Satish Ganesh has been transferred in the same capacity to Mathura.

Mr P V Rama Shashtri will be the new DIG (range) Meerut, replacing Mr P C Meena, while Mr Gyan Singh would take the place of IG Gurudarshan Singh.

''My government wanted an impartial and honest investigation in the case, which the state police was carrying forward and had unearthed several important facts also, but, since Aarushi's family members questioned the investigation of the UP police, it was handed over to the CBI on May 29,'' the Chief Minister clarified.

She further said the transfers were necessitated as the government wanted to ensure a candid probe without any bias or presumptions.

As the police officials involved in the case had been transferred, the possibility of police influencing the CBI with their earlier reports turned nil.

Earlier, the CBI this morning took up investigation into the murders of DPS student Aarushi Talwar and her domestic help Hemraj in Noida.

A 25-member team led by CBI joint director Arun Kumar Jha has been formed to probe the case.

The Noida police had arrested Aarushi's father Rajesh Talwar, a noted dentist, for the twin murders. At present, he is in judicial custody.

After registering a case. the CBI team visited the Talwar residence and spoke to Aarushi's mother Nupur Talwar and her relatives. They also spoke to Uttar Pradesh police officials, who had been investigating the case, and took the documents they had in connection with the murders that took place on May 15-16.

Sashastra Sena Bal (SSB) jawans have been posted at the residence, which is now sealed and out of bounds for general public and mediapersons.

UNI MB PDM SKB KN1900