RAIPUR: An automobile businessman, whose name surfaced as one of the suspects in the sleaze sex CD case, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his shop in Raipur on Tuesday.
Rinku Khanuja (40) was being questioned by the CBI in connection with the case.
Khanuja was found hanging at the first floor of his shop located at Gowardhan Chowk.
Rinku's mother stated that the CBI had been continuously summoning him for the past five days and he was under tremendous pressure.
Rinku's name had surfaced among the names of other suspects involved in morphing, designing and distribution of the sleaze CD.
However, CBI spokesperson RK Gaur told TOI, "Rinku Khanuja was one of the suspects in an ongoing investigation on alleged circulation and distribution of pornographic material. Rinku was called and examined for probe from June 1 to 3 at CBI camp in Raipur. He was confronted with other suspects and witnesses too and his statement was recorded. Rinku had left CBI camp on June 3 and he was asked to come again and submit certain documents on June 4. He didn't appear and CBI later learnt that he committed suicide on June 5."
CBI is probing the case of a journalist, Vinod Verma, allegedly accused of blackmailing and distributing pornographic material involving a BJP minsiter. Verma was arrested last year by the
Chhattisgarh Police. Amidst protest by journalists, the state government handed over the case to CBI.
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Rinku's wailing mother Shobha said, "Rinku left home at around 8.30am on Monday saying that he had been summoned by CBI and was going to their office. He told me that the CBI had been torturing him and was under tremendous pressure. The CBI officials had also visited our home once and repeatedly calling Rinku. He told me that they were questioning him over some 'CD kaand' and he was being trapped and victimised."
"I have seen marks of wound on his back and cheeks, he said he was under immense pain, I also gave him a painkiller. We have been calling him since yesterday but to no avail. We last saw him Monday morning," she said.
It was when the neighbouring shop owners called us on Tuesday morning saying that the shutter of shop was partially open and inquired if they should check inside.
"We reached the shop and on opening the shutter, we found the lights and air-cooler were switched on but we didn't had the keys to the room on the first floor. We went to neighbouring shop's balcony from where the first floor could be easily seen. I went along with the servant and on peeping from the window, I spotted Rinku's body hanging," the inconsolable mother said.
When contacted, Raipur SP Amresh Mishra told TOI, "Police have seized the body and the post mortem has been conducted and we are yet to receive the detailed report. Prima facie, it appears to be a suicide, though police are investigating other angles too. Rinku was asked to appear before CBI but disappeared. His family and CBI both had inquired with police about him."
Mishra said that it doesn't appear to be a case of torture by CBI however, we are looking into other angles as to what might have triggered the extreme step. There were no injury marks found on his body.
It was in October last year when a case of blackmail and extortion was registered at the Pandri police station based on a complaint by BJP leader Prakash Bajaj who had alleged that he was being harassed over phone by journalist Vinod Verma who told him that he had a CD of his 'aaka' (master).
A police team was sent to Delhi and Verma was arrested from his Ghaziabad residence on October 27, 2017 and police claimed to have seized 500 CDs, pen drives etc.
After Verma was arrested, the sex video allegedly involving PWD minister Rajesh Munat surfaced in Raipur, triggering a political storm with the Congress and the BJP targetting each other on the issue.
Munat had then lodged a complaint against state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and Vinod Verma at the Civil Lines police station in Raipur for allegedly tarnishing his image through the "fake CD".
The Chhattisgarh government had then recommended a CBI probe into the row. Verma, Baghel and some others have so far been questioned by the premiere investigative agency on the matter.
Congress demands SC-monitored probeRaising doubts over the carelessness on part of Raipur police, opposition Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi demanded that the further investigation in CD case should be conducted under the monitoring of a Supreme Court judge as it involves names of political leaders. A high-level probe is a must in this case. Trivedi said while deceased mother has been levelling serious charges, police is yet to seal the spot of incident nor police had made any attempt to recover the CCTV footage till evening. In order to avoid occurrence of such incidents in future, the further inquiry by CBI should be conducted under the monitoring of apex court.