BJP demands CBI probe in Sonawane killing case

Mumbai, Feb 2 (PTI) Maharashtra BJP today demanded CBIprobe into the murder of additional collector YashwantSonawane at the hands of adulteration mafia.

A delegation of BJP leaders led by Eknath Khadse met theGovernor K Sankaranarayanan today and put forward the demand.

Khadse also demanded a white paper on externment casesin recent years.

"The local police and bureaucrats are hand in gloveswith mafia. It is difficult to expect unbiased inquiry fromthe state police, so we demanded a CBI probe at the meetingwith the Governor," Khadse said.

The BJP leader also demanded a white paper from theGovernment on cases where externment orders were withdrawn, inlast three years.

The prime accused in Sonawane case, Popat Shinde, hadbeen externed, but later his externment was reduced by sixmonths.

"About 85 per cent of externment orders get revoked dueto political pressure, or lack of strong charges. TheGovernment should give all the information about externmentcases (through white paper), " Khadse said.