Chhagan Bhujbal demands CBI probe into Yashwant Sonawane murder case

Senior NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday sought a CBI probe into the killing of Yashwant Sonawane, who was set ablaze by the oil mafia at Manmad in Nashik last week. The move is believed to be aimed at blunting the opposition’s attack on the government over action against the oil adulterators.

“The state government should hand over the investigation to the CBI to send across a clear message that neither the Congress nor the NCP has a vested interest,’’ he said at a cabinet meeting. Bhujbal added that the opposition had launched an aggressive campaign to tarnish the image of the government over the officer’s killing.

Senior Congress minister Narayan Rane contended that the government should not buckle under the opposition’s pressure. “Our police force is capable enough to carry out investigations,’’ he said. Home minister RR Patil, too, was disinclined towards a CBI probe. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan remained non-committal.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of the BJP had met governor K Sankaranarayanan and complained to him about the cover-up in the Sonawane killing.

Leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse and state BJP chief Sudhir Mungan-tiwar said, “There is evidence showing a minister trying to shield the criminals. Attempts to destroy evidence are underway.”