Police interrogate Himachal legislator

Police officials said Ram Kumar Chaudhary, arrested Tuesday after he surrendered in a court here, was likely to be taken to Baddi town in Himachal Pradesh, 50 km from here, and other places to investigate his role in the murder of Jyoti, his former employee.

The victim was found dead near Sector 21 of Panchkula town, 15 km from Chandigarh, Nov 22. Her head was smashed. She belonged to a poor, Dalit family in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, 150 km from here.

Police in Panchkula booked Chaudhary and three others - Paramjeet, Dharampal and Gurmeet Singh - for the murder.

All of them had absconded after the case was registered. While Chaudhary surrendered, the others are still on the run.

"We will be investigating the money being deposited in her account at his behest and the details of SIM cards he had purchased to keep in contact with her," a Crime Branch official said.

A court here Tuesday sent Chaudhary to six days police remand. He has been kept by police in a lock-up in Sector 25.

Police had tried to arrest him by raiding various places in Himachal since early December but he evaded arrest.

Police Monday announced a reward of Rs.200,000 to anyone giving information about his whereabouts.

Chaudhary was supposed to take oath as legislator in the Himachal assembly in Dharamsala Tuesday but he appeared in the Panchkula court and surrendered. He was elected from Doon seat last month.

Haryana Police claims that Chaudhary had an association with Jyoti and his arrest was necessary for further investigation.