Nurse case: Rajasthan legislator opposes jail change

Jodhpur, May 3 (IANS) Malkhan Singh Bishnoi, Congress legislator arrested for alleged involvement in the murder of nurse Bhanwari Devi last year, filed an application in the Rajasthan High Court here objecting to his transfer to Ajmer Jail from Jodhpur Jail, a lawyer said Thursday.

The matter will come up for hearing Friday.

Malkhan Singh, who represents Luni constituency, and sacked Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna, a co-accused in the case, were shifted April 4 to Ajmer and Jaipur jails, respectively.

The high court directed the state government to shift the two accused from Jodhpur Jail, so that they could not threaten other accused lodged in the same prison.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) earlier told the court that investigators and witnesses in the Bhanwari Devi murder were getting threats.

"However, Malkhan filed an application in the Rajasthan High Court. He requested the court that the shifting be cancelled," said CBI's Special Public Prosecutor Panne Singh.

A similar application was filed earlier by Maderna.

Bhanwari Devi, who featured in a CD in a compromising position with Maderna, had gone missing Sep 1 last year. She is believed to have been murdered and her body burnt.

Maderna and Malkhan are among 16 accused arrested in the case.