Lucknow, July 19: As Congress leadership asked its workers to keep filling the jail till its demand for a CBI probe into torching of party president Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s house was conceded, the government rejected it outright and announced handing over the investigation to the Crime Branch on Sunday. However, the govt did not give any time-frame to CB-CID to complete the probe.
Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said Chief Minister Mayawati has ordered the CB-CID probe.
Congress has been demanding CBI probe alleging that the arson on July 15 was backed by the state administration and some policemen among the arsonists. BSP MLA Jitendra Singh Babloo was also seen leading the mob in the high-security zone.
Rita Bahuguna-Joshi was arrested and jailed after she made some derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati at Moradabad. However, she was granted an interim bail by the Moradabad District & Sessions Court on Saturday. The PCC chief has meanwhile moved the Allahabad High Court to quash the FIR against her.
Talking to mediapersons the cabinet secretary said though the CB-CID was not given any specific time period to complete its investigation, it had been directed to give its report at the earliest.
He said that the chief minister wanted to assure political parties that those found guilty in torching Bahuguna-Joshi’s residence would not be spared.”
He also said that a probe has been ordered to prove commitment of the state government to go above the party and political lines and reach the depth of any incident.
–Agencies