Finally Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiya had to clear the lie detection test by the sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prove his innocence in connection with his alleged involvement in the sensational killing of deputy SP, Zia-ul-Haq in Pratapgarh.
In judgement delivered in this regard on Wednesday, Zeenat Mirja, Special Judge in the Special CBI Court sanctioned permission to the CBI to grill Raja Bhaiya regarding his alleged involvement in Dy SP’s killing in Pratapgarh. The test will be conducted within the next two days in New Delhi. On Tuesday, Raja Bhaiyya, an independent MlA from Pratapgarh, who appeared in person before Special Judge Zeenat Mirza, conveyed that he has no objection over the polygraph test but he reiterated that he has nothing to do with the murder of the DSP or the Pradhan and his brother.
The former Minister had also given in writing about his innocence in the court. After hearing pleas of both the parties, Zeenat Mirza reserved the judgement but in wake of Raja’s consent it was almost clear that Raja had to under-go polygraphy test to prove that he has nothing to do with killing of Deputy SP or pradhan and his brother. On June 6, the CBI had moved a petition seeking permission to go for a lie detector test on Raja Bhaiyya. The court had fixed June 11 for the hearing but was deferred as Raja Bhaiyya was on religious trip to Uttarakhand.
The CBI's demand followed a marathon interrogation of the former minister for around 19 hours on May 15 and 16. In the application, the CBI has also asked Raja Bhaiyya to appear in the court and give his version whether he is ready for the test or not. The sources said during the interrogation, there were some conflicting statements by the leader and to cross-examine those links, a polygraph test was necessary. Raja Bhaiyya is an accused in the Zia-ul-Haq murder on March 2 at Walipur village of Kunda tehsil in Pratapgarh district after the killing of Pradhan, Nanhe Yadav and his brother Suresh.
The CBI had already filed a charge sheet against five persons in the murder of the Pradhan and his brother. On June 8, the CBI had filed another charge sheet against 14 people in Zia-ul- Haq murder case. In both the charge sheets, Raja Bhaiyya's name was not figured. Raja Bhaiya had resigned from the ministry after an FIR was registered against him in the Zia-ul-Haq murder case. Parveen Azad, the wife of slain Deputy Superintendent had registered an FIR against four people, including Raja Bhaiyya, in the case alleging that heorchestrated the meticulously planned murder of her husband Zia-ul-Haq. The matter was initially probed by local police but later on request of Haq’s widow, state government shifted the probe into the hands of CBI.