Bhanwari case: Key suspect's brother arrested

In a major development in the Bhanwari Devi missing case, police on Friday night arrested the brother of Bishna Ram Bishnoi, an absconder in the case with a cash reward of Rs5 lakh on his head.

Om Prakash Bishnoi was caught last night while attempting to flee in a truck at Gudha Malani in Barmer district, a police official said, adding that Bishna Ram's brother was initially detained.

Police have already taken into custody a number of suspects either for providing shelter to Bishna Ram or helping him to evade arrest.

Om Prakash is being considered as a prize catch as he was a close confidant of Bishna Ram.

"This fact gives us adequate ground to believe that he must be aware of the series of incidents that might have occurred after Bishna Ram took the possession of Bhanwari Devi from Sohan Lal and Shahabuddin, if Sahi Ram's statement is to be believed," the police official said.

Sahi Ram, a key suspect in the case, is said to have admitted before the CBI that Bishna Ram had to "dispose off" Bhanwari Devi according to a plan, he said.

As Shai Ram is still under CBI custody, the central agency may also take custody of Om Prakash for his interrogation and to corroborate facts with Sahi Ram in order to verify the latter's statements about Bishna Ram's role in the case, the official said.