Cops search BSP MLA’s home in Congress neta murder case

BHOPAL: Police searched the office and residence of BSP MLA Ram Bai on Friday in connection with the murder of a Congress leader eight days ago in which her husband is an accused. Damoh SP R S Velvanshi herself led the search party.
Ram Bai, the legislator from Patharia, alleged police harassment, and claimed that her domestic help was picked up by cops. “Congress and BSP have united to harass me and tarnish my image,” she told TOI.Ram Bai is one of two BSP MLAs, who supported Congress to form the government after it fell short of majority mark by two seats in the last assembly election. The lone SP MLA and four Independents have also pledged support.
On March 15, Devendra Chourasia, who had crossed over from BSP to Congress a week earlier, was allegedly beaten to death by a group of people. Chourasia’s son Somesh was also attacked when he tried to save him, police said. The family filed an FIR naming Ram Bai’s husband Govind Singh, his brother Chandu, and Indrapal Patel — son of district panchayat president Shivcharan Patel — among the accused. Police haven’t been able to trace the trio since the day of the murder. Friday’s raid was in the hope of finding the suspects or any clue to the case, said SP Velvanshi.
In the run-up to Lok Sabha polls, the murder has triggered a political controversy. After the search, Rambai told TOI over phone from Damoh, “ I have been targeted by police. The day Chourasia was murdered, my husband was at home with me in Damoh. And my brother-in-law was attending a function on (BSP founder) Kanshiram ji.”
Ten suspects have been rounded up so far, the SP said, adding that the reward for the arrest of the accused has been raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000. “We hope to nab them soon,” he said.
The Patel community has submitted a memorandum to Damoh MP, BJP’s Prahalad Patel, saying Indrapal was not involved in the crime. The MP, in turn, asked police “to ensure that injustice is not done to any innocent”. Congress accused Prahalad Patel of shielding Indrapal, and burnt his effigies.