Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tuesday announced a CBI probe into the killing of Indian Police Service officer Narendra Kumar on a day the opposition Congress called a strike over the issue.
The issue was raised in the Madhya Pradesh assembly too, leading to adjournment of the house.
The family of the slain IPS officer has also demanded probe by the premier investigation agency.
Earlier, Chouhan had ordered judicial probe into the murder of Kumar, who was crushed to death by a tractor loaded with illegally-mined stones in Murena district on the day of Holi.
The 2009 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre had joined Madhya Pradesh only three months ago. His wife, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Madhurani Tewatia of Madhya Pradesh cadre, was posted in Gwalior and was pregnant.
Announcing CBI probe and citing reasons to accept it, Chouhan said outside the assembly: “I had talked to my sister (as Chouhan has been referring to Madhurani Tewatia since the last few days) on the issue. She was happy for a judicial probe but added that if a CBI inquiry could take place, it would have been better.”
“I have accepted her demand and taken decision to write for CBI probe,” he said, but quickly added. “But the way Congress is doing dirty politics on the issue and maligning Madhya Pradesh’s image, it is very unfortunate.”
The leader of opposition Ajay Singh refused the allegations of Chief Minister Chouhan and said, “We are only supporting the demand of the IPS officer’s family, they are also demanding the same. And the chief minister has done an unconstitutional act by announcing a CBI probe outside house when assembly was functioning. If he would have announced it when we were asking for a CBI probe inside house, the day would have not been wasted.”
Meanwhile, the impact of Madhya Pradesh Congress committee’s bandh call was effective as not only in state capital Bhopal, but in financial capital Indore, Gwalior, Bhind, Burhanpur and in other places shops remained closed and passenger vehicles did not ply on roads.
The members of Indian Against Corruption (IAC) also begin a three-day dharna in Bhopal over killing of the IPS officer.