Kunda (Uttar Pradesh):
Former Uttar Pradesh minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias
Raja Bhaiya today appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in connection with the murder case of Kunda Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul-Haque.
Mr Haque's wife Parveen Azad had accused Raja Bhaiya of being involved in the murder case. The allegations forced him to resign from as Minister of Food and Civil Supplies from the Akhilesh Yadav government.
The CBI has already grilled close associates of the former minister and has questioned his cousin and Member of State Legislative Council Akshay Pratap Singh alias Gopal ji.
Mr Haque was killed on March 2 in Pratapgarh district where he had gone to probe a village headman's murder. An angry mob reportedly cornered him, and eight policemen who were with him allegedly abandoned him. Three bullets were fired - one killed Mr Haque; the other two killed headman Nanhe Yadav's brother.
The CBI had registered four cases pertaining to the three murders and booked Raja Bhaiya in one of them.
Raja Bhaiya, who has a lengthy criminal record, has denied the allegations against him.
After getting the case, the CBI had formed a 10-member team for investigation. The team had recently made some important recoveries, including the service revolver of Mr Haque.
The CBI has till the end of this month to file a chargesheet in the case.