'Only a CBI probe would unravel mystery'

relieving Mohammad Shahid, the former personal secretary to Chief Minister Harish Rawat, in connection with the liquor sting operation under pressure from DoPT would not suffice, said State BJP president Tirath Singh Rawat on Wednesday, adding that only a CBI probe would unravel the mystery. “CBI probe into the sensitive matter is a must in view of the integrity of the Chief Minister himself remaining under cloud,” he said, during his ongoing Kumaon trip.

“Shahid was shown in the sting video settling a deal with a liquor baron on behalf of the CM Harish Rawat. Nothing short of a CBI probe can clear the mist hanging over the role of the CM. We are convinced that things happened at the behest of the CM,” he said.   

Dubbing the Congress-led State Government as the fountain head of corruption, the BJP leader said the recent revelations of the embezzlement of hard-earned public funds in the 2013 disaster scam and the sting video bear testimony to the collective perception of the state government being steeped neck deep in grafts.   

“We wonder why the CM is shying away from a probe into the sting operation by the premier investigating agency of the country if his Government is innocent. This procrastination on the part of the CM is deepening suspicion  that things happened at his behest,” the BJP state  chief said.  

Sounding concerned over the voice of the whistleblowers being ruthlessly gagged, he said his party would not sit idle.  Notably, the State BJP launched a State-wide protest on August 8 against the Congress-led State Government, demanding  a CBI inquiry into the matter.