Following the gruesome massacre of local businessman Satish Goel’s entire family, the proposed visit of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to Ghaziabad has been postponed. “No further date has been intimated,” said Ghaziabad District Magistrate SVS Ranga Rao.
It was said that the UP administration does not want to face an embarrassing situation in front of the Chief Minister, hence the visit has been postponed. With the arrest of 21-year-old former driver of the family, the police claimed to have solved the case within 24 hours of the incident. However, the way police said of having solved the case, drew flak.
Satish Goel, along with his wife and five others — son, daughter-in-law, three grand-children — was found butchered to death on May 21. All valuables, including cash and jewellery, were found missing. The administration sources said that the confidential report to Akhilesh Yadav has indicated that a huge protest could be staged before his residence, and therefore his visit has been postponed for an indefinite period.
Meanwhile, leaders of local traders demanded a CBI investigation be initiated. Ashok Chawla, the General Secretary of Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal said, “On our open discussions across the city, we have found that the entire city is demanding a CBI investigation into it.”
The BSP leader and Ghaziabad MlA Suresh Bansal, BJP leader Atul Garg, BJP city president Ashok Monga, Congress leader and former MP Surendra Prakash Goel also demanded the same. They said that to make a good impression, the Ghaziabad Police have implicated an innocent man in the heinous case and have spoiled his life.
"The 'accused' Rahul Verma seemed so happy during the Press conference. It might be possible that the police have lured him under false promises," said Rajendra Tyagi, social activist and fifth time councillor on BJP fold. In the meantime, the local court has remanded one-and-half day police custody to the accused.