Significant developments are expected in the Bhanwari Devi case, following the submission of the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) second report, on Thursday. The CBI submitted the report, presented in a sealed envelope, at a private hearing before the bench comprising Govind Mathur and N.K. Jain. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that a joint team of CBI investigators and Rajasthan police officers have unearthed new and possibly vital evidence. However, no details of the evidence have been given so far.
Bhanwari Devi, 36, a mid-wife, has been missing since Sept. 1. It is commonly believed that she had an affair with the former Rajasthan Water Resources Minister, Mahipal Maderna, following which claims of blackmail and extortion were made against Bhanwari.
The CBI team, it is believed, has photographs of Maderna in compromising positions with Bhanwari Devi, in addition to audio tapes. Bhanwari Devi's husband, Amarchand, has alleged that his wife was kidnapped at the behest of Maderna.
The CBI has announced a Rs. 10 lakh reward to anyone providing credible information about the missing nurse.