Maharashtra Home Minister for CBI probe in Sonawane killing

Mumbai, Feb 3 (PTI) Maharashtra Home Minister R RPatil today favoured a CBI probe into the killing of NashikAdditional Collector Yashwant Sonawane allegedly by themembers of the oil mafia.

He has written a letter to the CBI Director in thisregard.

"I have written to the CBI director about probing thecase," the Home Minister said.

The move comes a day after senior NCP minister ChhaganBhujbal, at a Cabinet meeting, demanded an inquiry by thecentral agency into the January 25 murder to bluntOpposition''s criticism against him.

Bhujbal, who is Guardian Minister of Nashik district,had said he made the demand to remove "even an iota of doubt"from the minds of people after the Opposition''s allegationsagainst NCP ministers over the gruesome killing.

"Opposition leaders, by making direct and indirectallegations, have pointed the needle of suspicion on me,"Bhujbal had said.

A delegation of leaders of main Opposition BJP metGovernor K Sankaranarayanan yesterday and alleged a "cover-up"in the Sonawane killing.

Leader of the Opposition in Assembly Eknath Khadse andstate BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar had said, "a minister istrying to shield the criminals and attempts to destroyevidence are underway." PTI VT SSG RSY