CB CID submits report on arson at UP Cong leader's house

The Uttar Pradesh CB CID, which probed the arson of Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi's house during the erstwhile Mayawati regime, has submitted its report to the state government, official sources said here today.
"The 400-page report of the incident that took place on July 15, 2009 when Rita Bahuguna Joshi was state unit president of Congress has been submitted to the government yesterday," a senior official told PTI.
In the report, the CB CID has pointed fingers at the role played by then DIG Prem Prakash, then ASP Harish Kumar, then Circle Officer of Hazratganj BS Gabriyal, then Inspector of Hussainganj Baliram Saroj and 11 other policemen, the sources said, adding that these officers did not perform their duties and sided with those involved in the arsoning.

Once the report was reviewed by the government, an FIR could be lodged against these policemen, they said.
Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary Home Kamal Saxena, when asked about submission of the report, neither confirmed nor denied it.
"They (the CB CID) might have submitted its report. I am not aware. If it is submitted, it would be reviewed by the government," Saxena said.

House of Joshi was set afire by an angry mob after she allegedly made some statements against BSP supremo and then Chief Minister Mayawati.
The main accused in the arsoning case included former BSP MLA Jitendra Singh Babloo, Intizaar Abidi Bobby, Siraj Ahmad, Rajkishore, Yogesh Tiwari, Nadeem and Dayanand Tiwari.

Meanwhile, Joshi said that she was glad that the report has been submitted by the CB CID within five years of the case. "I demand that an FIR be immediately lodged against those named in the report...," Joshi told PTI over phone.
She said she also demanded from the state government to constitute a fast-track court so that it did not take 20 years to get the justice. "I hope the state government will soon take a decision on the report after going through it," she added.