Rawat grilled for nearly five hours

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat was on Tuesday examined by CBI for nearly five hours in connection with a preliminary inquiry into a sting operation involving him with the agency claiming he did not fully answer some questions during the session.

Accompanied by some supporters and an MLA, Rawat arrived at the CBI headquarters at 11 AM, probably becoming the first sitting chief minister to come to the agency headquarters for being examined in a preliminary enquiry.

He was questioned by the probe team till 4 PM during which a number of queries related to his relations with the owner of a news channel, alleged bribe proposal made to one dissident MLA by him and a minister in his cabinet, besides his claims on the purported sting video were asked.

“The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat was examined today in connection with inquiry in the alleged sting operation. Further examination will continue. He will be called again,” CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh said.

Sources in the agency later claimed that Rawat could not “furnish full and complete details” on many issues for which he has been called again which was countered by him saying he fully cooperated with the agency. The sources, however, failed to elaborate on what specific points Rawat did not furnish details.

After coming out from the session, Rawat said he cannot reveal the questions asked by the probe team.

“I need not produce any evidence. I have neither done any horse trading nor given any money to anyone. I never said I want MLAs. I will come again on June 7th. People of electronic media reach anywhere. I accorded that journalist respect and he blackmailed me. Media needs to ponder over this,” he said.