Knives out for Bahuguna in Ponty case
7 Dec 2012 6:38 AM IST
The ghost of murdered businessman Ponty Chadha has begun to stalk the Vijay Bahuguna-led Uttarakhand government. Though the chief minister summarily dismissed Bazpur-based transporter Sukhdev Singh Namdhari as chairman of Uttarakhand Minorities Commission once the latter’s name emerged as prime accused in the Chadha murder case, he is still unable to scotch the murmurs of his links with Namdhari.
Bahuguna’s discomfort is now sought to be used by his detractors to unsettle him. The chief minister was embarrassed by the washing of dirty linen in public, albeit indirectly, by state health minister Pritam Singh. The influential tribal leader from Chakrata on Wednesday wrote a letter to Bahuguna to recommend a CBI probe in the murder case; a demand made earlier by the Opposition BJP.
Bahuguna was quick to reject his colleagues’ demand saying, ‘Since the murder took place in Delhi, we cannot recommend any CBI probe.’ The chief minister went on to add that he was not aware of any information regarding any alleged links of state politicians and bureaucrats with the murder case or prime accused Namdhari.
However, Uttarakhand police has objected to the Delhi police carrying out raids in the state without taking local cops into confidence. The crime branch officials of Delhi police have hinted at the role of some officials and politicians of the state if not in the murder at least in alleged illegal businesses of the slain realtor-hotelier. Delhi police has also arrested Uttarakhand cop Sachin Tyagi, attached to Namdhari, in the matter.
With his son having lost the Garhwal Lok Sabha seat in the bypoll, Bahuguna, whose government survives on thin majority, has his boat in choppy waters, at least till the controversy dies down.
Bahuguna’s discomfort is now sought to be used by his detractors to unsettle him. The chief minister was embarrassed by the washing of dirty linen in public, albeit indirectly, by state health minister Pritam Singh. The influential tribal leader from Chakrata on Wednesday wrote a letter to Bahuguna to recommend a CBI probe in the murder case; a demand made earlier by the Opposition BJP.
Bahuguna was quick to reject his colleagues’ demand saying, ‘Since the murder took place in Delhi, we cannot recommend any CBI probe.’ The chief minister went on to add that he was not aware of any information regarding any alleged links of state politicians and bureaucrats with the murder case or prime accused Namdhari.
However, Uttarakhand police has objected to the Delhi police carrying out raids in the state without taking local cops into confidence. The crime branch officials of Delhi police have hinted at the role of some officials and politicians of the state if not in the murder at least in alleged illegal businesses of the slain realtor-hotelier. Delhi police has also arrested Uttarakhand cop Sachin Tyagi, attached to Namdhari, in the matter.
With his son having lost the Garhwal Lok Sabha seat in the bypoll, Bahuguna, whose government survives on thin majority, has his boat in choppy waters, at least till the controversy dies down.
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