The CBI from Monday began grilling police officers to unravel the exact circumstances that led to Rizwanur Rehman’s death. Officers in-charge of the Karaya and Entally police stations and two sub-inspectors of the Karaya post were called to the Nizam Palace office of the CBI and interrogated for over an hour. Rizwanur Rehman had registered a complaint with both these police stations.

A CBI source told The Indian Express that these officers, who were aware of the complaint, could not explain why they chose to keep silent over the issue. The CBI officer said, “We recorded their statements and will call them again if necessary.”

Sub-inspectors Pulok Dutta and Jayanto Mukherjee arrived for interrogation around 11.30 am. Later in the afternoon, it was the turn of Entally officer in-charge Pradip Dam and Karaya police chief Swapan Mitra. Both were closeted with CBI officers for a long time. The sub-inspectors have reportedly told the CBI that on the night of August 31, the evening Priyanka Todi left for her father’s home, they were informed of a commotion in front of Rizwanur’s 7B, Tiljala Lane house. The officers visited the spot and saw several vehicles parked before the house. After inquiring, they were shown the marriage certificate by those who had gathered. They soon left the area because they found nothing amiss, the sub-inspectors told the CBI.

Meanwhile, S M Mohiuddin, alias Pappu, who acted as the conduit between the two families and is now being accused of accepting cash from the Todis to break up the marriage, told The Indian Express, “I have not taken any money. I have known Ajay Kumar (one of the deputy commissioners removed after the scandal broke) for several years now. He has advised me from time to time on the functioning of my NGO Peace Foundation. I also have good relations with other IPS officers.”