Bhanwari case: CBI grills Malkhan Maderna's wife for 2nd day

Jodhpur, Nov 12: Congress MLA Malkhan Singh and sacked Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna's wife Lila Maderna were today grilled for the second day in Bhanwari Devi missing case by the CBI here. Malkhan, who represents Luni constituency in Rajasthan Assembly, was grilled along with Lila at the circuit house in the city, officials said.

Later, after coming out from the circuit house, Lila - who had yesterday accused the media of trying to target her husband - told reporters the CD purportedly showing Maderna in compromising state with Bhanwari "was fabricated and aimed at maligning the legacy of her family by their rivals".

Lila claimed she does not have any clue of any relationship between Bhanwari and her husband. However, she said, even if they were in a relationship "it was not an offence and an act of mutual consent".

A CD allegedly showing Maderna and Malkhan in compromising position with 36-year-old Bhanwari, an auxiliary nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village - around 120 km from here, had come to light after she went missing from Jodhpur's Bilara area on September 1. Her husband Amarchand had alleged she was abducted at the behest of Maderna.

Sources said it is believed that Bhanwari was introduced to Maderna some years back by Malkhan, who had already admitted to CBI that he knew her. CBI had yesterday questioned Mahipal, Lila, Malkan and his sister Indira, who had earlier told media that Bhanwari wanted a "settlement of the deal" with former Water Resources Minister Maderna and she had approached even the Pali MP Badri Ram Jakhar. Maderna was sacked from the state cabinet on October 16 after his name cropped up in the case.

PTI