Bhanwari Devi (2011 case)

Alleged blackmailer went missing

Bhanwari Devi went missing on 1 September 2011. Her husband Amarchand alleged that she was abducted on orders of Mahipal Maderna. It was alleged that Bhanwari Devi was blackmailing Maderna and Congress legislator Malkhan Singh for crores (millions) based upon a CD in which Maderna and others were seen in a compromising position with Bhanwari Devi. The two politicians allegedly brought in a person named Sahiram Bishnoi, who hired Sohan Lal, Balia and Shahabuddin to kidnap the nurse. In November 2011, Rehana, the girlfriend of the key suspect Shahabuddin, leaked an audio clip of the CD to the reporters. Her discussion with Shahabuddin in the Jodhpur Central Jail was recorded. During the discussion Shahabuddin told Rehana that Bhanwari Devi was handed over to the gang of Pradeep Godara, a criminal wanted by the Rajasthan police in several cases. He also said that he had been falsely implicated in the case, and did not know what happened to Devi.

Investigations

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was rebuked by the High Court about his inaction in case. So he sacked Maderna from the Cabinet on 16 October 2011. Maderna was representing the Osian Assembly Constituency. Later this case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Arrests

The CBI arrested Mahipal Maderna on 3 December and questioned him. He was confronted with the key suspects, Sahiram Bishnoi, Shahabuddin and Sohan Lal Bishnoi in jail. On 6 January the CBI claimed to know the whereabouts of disposal of Bhanwari Devi's body. Investigation officers were praised by the CBI director for solving this case in 100 days. The agency is about to file a second chargesheet after admission of the Bishnaram gang on the disposal of her body at Jaloda village near Osian village in Jodhpur. On 17 January 2012, one of Bishnaram's gang members, Ashok Bishnoi, surrendered to the police.

Operation Watch

Police found evidence of weapons used to kill Devi in a canal due to "Operation Watch". Divers found two pistols and a bat, reportedly used to crush Devi's skull, in Rajiv Gandhi Canal. A wrist watch, some pieces of bones and a few personal articles, including a ring and a locket, were also recovered from the canal. It is not yet verified whether the articles belonged to Bhanwari Devi. Her ashes were dumped in the canal as admitted by the accused Bishnaram and Kailash Jakhar. The pieces of burnt bone were also recovered which were submitted to T D Dogra at AIIMS New Delhi for examination by the CBI.

Charge sheet

In a second charge sheet the CBI projected Malkhan Singh as Bhanwari's onetime partner. Malkhan Singh used her to upstage Maderna but later allied with Maderna to murder her. Malkhan's sister Indira Devi and Bhanwari Devi planned to shoot controversial video to make it public later and malign Maderna. But contrary to Malkhan's plan Bhanwari started to blackmail Malkhan too. Additionally Indira Devi who is absconding acted as a troubleshooter for both leaders while dealing with Bhanwari. Indira interfered whenever Bhanwari threatened to go public about the tape. In the charge sheet against 13 accused, Maderna and Malkhan Singh was charged with murder, abduction, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. Amarchand, Bhanwari's husband charged with criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence and abduction. But investigation against four persons including absconding Indira Devi are pending. In another revelation CBI said that a DNA test proved that Bhanwari's youngest daughter Gungun was fathered by Malkhan.

The CBI chargesheet in the Bhanwari Devi murder case describes her as a social climber with "big ambitions". Former Rajasthan cabinet minister Mahipal Maderna and Congress MLA Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, both charged with murder, are depicted as men fond of "sura aur sundari" (wine and women).

The chargesheet also mentions that Bhanwari made two video recordings, in different locations, showing Maderna and her in a "compromising position".

Family

Bhanwari has two children - one boy, aged 18, and one girl, aged 7. On 16 January, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot promised financial compensation and assistance with work and education for the children since they were facing social stigma.