Bhanwari Devi is dead: CBI tells Rajasthan HC

Jaipur: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday that Bhanwari Devi is dead while filing its report on the Habeas Corpus writ in the case.

Four months after she went missing, the investing agency, for the first time, has officially informed the court that she is no more. The next hearing in the case will take place on February 21.

Bhanwari Devi's body was allegedly burnt by a gang of criminals led by Bishnaram Bishnoi in a 30-feet deep carter near Jadola on September 1, 2011, the day she went missing.

Bhanwari's son had identified her watch and ear rings after the CBI on Saturday recovered key evidences including watch, jewellery parts and body remains allegedly belonging to Bhanwari from the Rajiv Gandhi canal near Jodhpur.

The identification of Bhanwari's belongings by the son has corroborated the statement of one of the main accused, Kailash Jakhar, who had said that he had thrown Bhanwari's belongings in the canal.

A Central Scientific Forensic Laboratory (CSFL) team was accompanying the CBI in collecting evidence.

The CBI had also recovered some cloths belonging to Kailash Jakhar, which have been sent to CFSL for forensic examination.

A team of forensic experts also re-visited the Scorpio SUV of Jakhar, which was reportedly used by the accused to take Bhanwari's body to Jaloda for final disposal.

Bhanwari Devi, allegedly shown in a compromising position with sacked Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna in a CD, had gone missing on September 1, 2011.

CBI sources said Maderna and Congress MLA Malkhan Singh were part of the conspiracy to abduct and eliminate Bhanwari.

While Maderna wanted the sleaze CD featuring him and Bhanwari at any cost, Malkhan Singh who allegedly fathered one of Bhanwari's daughters wanted to save his reputation.

Bhanwari had threatened to expose Malkhan's relationship with her at the Bishnoi mahapanchayat on September 8.

Bhanwari's husband Amarchand knew about Malkhan's intentions but according to CBI sources Malkhan bought his silence for 10 lakh.

Malkhan had instructed Amarchand to ensure that Bhanwari travelled to Bilwara , the scene of crime , alone on September 1.

Sources said Amarchand did exactly as told - he faked a malfunction in the family car and sent Bhanawri with Sahi Ram to Bilwara. It was here that Sahi Ram and Shahabuddin allegedly killed Bhanwari and handed over her body to Bishna Ram's gang.

The missing link was Bhanwari's body but the CBI believes confessions of one of the accused will help it nail the case.

Kailash Jhakhar, member of the gang which disposed Bhanwari's body has allegedly confessed that Bhanwari was murdered, her body burnt and her remains disposed off in a Rajasthan canal.

A gold locket belonging to Bhanwari has also been recovered at the instance of the accused and now with Bishnaram's arrest the CBI is hopeful of cracking the case soon.

Four months after she went missing, the CBI claims to have finally joined the dots in the Bhanwari Devi murder case.

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