CB-CID to probe Swami Nigamanand's death

The Uttarakhand government has ordered a CB-CID probe into the allegations that Swami Nigamananda, who was on fast for nearly four months to protest corruption, was poisoned leading to his death.

Referring to the allegation of poisoning the seer and a named complaint against the then chief medical superintendent of Haridwar district hospital Dr PK Bhatnagar and owner of Himalaya stone crusher Gyanesh Kumar in this regard, urban development minister Madan Kaushik said the inquiry has been handed over to CB-CID said today.

The seer had protested quarrying near the Ganges in alleged violation of court order.

Kaushik said the government had already issued an order in April banning quarrying in Ganga in Kumbh area.

However, a stone crusher owner later moved the high court to get a stay on that order following which the area was reopened for quarrying, Kaushik told reporters dismissing suggestions that state government is responsible for the death of Swami Nigamanand.

A fortnight ago, the stay was vacated by the court and quarrying is not being done in the Kumbh area, he claimed.

He said the government made several efforts at various levels to persuade Swami Nigamanand to end his fast.

He accused Congress of "politicising" the issue of death of the seer and of being "insensitive" for sadhus.