The CBI on Friday questioned BJP’s Rajya Sabha members Prakash Javadekar and Bhupendra Yadav in connection with allegations that they had discussed ways to influence the statement of the mother of a fake encounter victim — Tulsiram Prajapati — to weaken the case against Amit Shah, close aide of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. Prajapati was killed by the Gujarat cops allegedly in a fake encounter on December 28, 2006 near Ambaji in Sabarkantha district of the state. CBI sources said Yadav was quizzed early on Friday morning, while Mr Javadekar arrived at 1.45 pm at the agency headquarters for questioning. The agency sleuths grilled Mr Javadekar and Mr Yadav separately for several hours in connection with a videotape in which they were allegedly seen discussing ways to weaken case against the then minister of state for home (Gujarat) Amit Shah. Sources further said, “During questioning, the duo were asked specific questions related to the conversations shown in the tape and events related to them. They cooperated with us.” Both had earlier refuted the charge and maintained that they are innocent. The CBI has also summoned party general secretary Ramlal who also figured in the sting operation relating to the Prajapati alleged fake encounter case conducted by an independent journalist. The journalist, who conducted the sting operation, had alleged that senior BJP leaders managed to get undated blank “vakalatnamas” from Narmadabai to allegedly subvert the judicial proceedings. Talking to reporters outside the CBI headquarters, Mr Javadekar said, “I believe in the legal processes. CBI has called me today so I have appeared here.”
