V P Singh demands CBI probe into Kavita case

LUCKNOW: Former Prime Minister V P Singh on Monday supported the demand for a CBI probe into the case of missing Meerut university lecturer Kavita Rani.

"I fully support the demand for a CBI inquiry into the matter," Singh told reporters here referring to the alleged involvement of two ministers in the Mulayam Singh Yadav Cabinet with the lecturer.

When it was pointed out that the name of a Jan Morcha leader, who allegedly nominated the lecturer as a member in an arts academy, had also cropped up in the case, Singh said "one does not become a suspect just because he nominated someone. I had also nominated several women during my tenure as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh".

Besides the opposition Congress, the ruling Samajwadi Party's former National Secretary and in charge of North-East affairs Mahaveer Singh has also demanded sacking of ministers Chaudhry Babulal and Kiran Pal Singh and an impartial probe into the case.

The main suspect Ravindra Pradhan was today produced at a press conference in Meerut, where he said with the help of an associate had murdered Kavita on October 24.

He claimed to have made a CD of Kavita in a compromising position in the bedroom of former minister Meerajuddin. He also said he gave the sleaze tape to the RLD leader after collecting Rs 35 lakh from him as hush money.

Meerajuddin has sent a letter to Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh, resigning from the party's national executive.