The sensational double murder of teenager Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj in Noida has turned into a political football.
Maya blasts Centre after recommending CBI probe into Aarushi case, Cong returns fire
NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: The sensational double murder of teenager Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj in Noida has turned into a political football. Aarushi was on Thursday caught in the crossfire between the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and the Congress-led central government.
Under pressure, the UP chief minister recommended a CBI probe into the case. However, the recommendation didn’t come without her characteristic dig at the Centre.
Mayawati accused the Congress of “politicising” the issue and said, “The case is being blown up for dirty politics, not out of sympathy for the affected family.”
She said at a press conference here on Thursday, “I am satisfied with the way UP Police have handled this case. Investigations are still on, but since the family has raised doubts over the inquiry by Noida Police, we are referring the matter to the CBI.”
Mayawati intrigued many with a loaded remark that UP Police had come across a lot of evidence “but it would be below my dignity to reveal such matters publicly”. She said the evidence had been placed before court.
The UP CM also lashed out at the CBI, charging it with working under political pressure. “Most inquiries referred to the CBI by my government have been turned down under pressure from the Centre or the Congress. I have my doubts this might happen in this (Aarushi) case also,” she said.
Never one to miss a chance, Union minister for women and child development Renuka Chowdhury was the first to counter Mayawati. “I am shocked. Instead of asking the police to plug the loopholes in the Aarushi murder case, she (Mayawati) is levelling charges on the government.
“I am reacting as a mother. I wish Mayawati would know what it is to feel that way.”
Next to throw the hat into the ring was Union minister of state for home affairs SP Jaiswal. He said, “The UP special task force is already probing the matter and there is no need for a CBI inquiry.”
Lawyers of Rajesh Talwar, father of the slain teen who is in police custody for allegedly committing the twin murder, said Jaiswal’s comments were of “no consequence”.
“A CBI enquiry is necessary in this case. This case is fit for such a probe as it involves the sensibilities of the middle-class,” lawyer Pinaki Mishra said.
Minister of state for personnel Prithviraj Chavan said his ministry had not received any recommendation for a CBI probe into the case and that a decision on the probe will be taken only after scrutinising the proposal sent by the state.
Meanwhile, Rajesh’s three-day police remand is scheduled to end at 6pm on Friday. The police moved an application on Thursday seeking the court’s permission to conduct brain-mapping, narco-analysis and lie detector tests on Rajesh and said they had convincing evidence to prove his involvement in the case.
Rajesh’s family and lawyers have been claiming the cops have kept him at an undisclosed location in violation of judicial orders that said Rajesh should be interrogated in the presence of his lawyer and a doctor, owing to his ill health.
The accused’s lawyer Abhijeet Chaterjee alleged Rajesh was being tortured by the cops. The cops, however, denied this.
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g_deepak@dnaindia.net
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