CBI arrests BJP MP in Jethwa murder case

The killing had led to RTI activists across country raising concern over safety of whistleblowers.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday arrested BJP MP Dinu Bogha Solanki in connection with the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethwa after questioning him at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi. Solanki was reportedly confronted with evidences allegedly showing his involvement in the crime.

A special team questioned the Junagarh MP at the CBI headquarters after he arrived in the morning. Sources said Solanki will be produced in a Delhi court Wednesday,and then taken to Gujarat.

Gujarat Police had given him a clean chit. The CBI had registered a case on the direction of the Gujarat High Court after Jethwas father Bhikabhai moved the court alleging the state police had not properly probed the case and the state government was shielding the BJP MP.

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Jethwa,a Right to Information (RTI) activist,who had filed RTI applications and a PIL against illegal mining in Gir forest region was shot outside the Gujarat High Court on July 20,2010.

Jethwa had contested assembly elections in 2007 against Solanki. He has criminal cases registered against him,sources said.

The killing had led to an uproar and RTI activists across the country raised concern over safety of whistleblowers.

Gujarat Police had arrested six persons,including Shiva Solanki,nephew of the BJP MP,and sharpshooter Sailesh Pandya who allegedly shot Jethwa. Gujarat Police crime branch had ruled out the involvement of the MP.