"I had learnt from media reports that Maderna is not keeping well, so I decided to pay a courtesy visit to him," Rathore told reporters after the meeting.
"The visit has nothing to do with politics or exploring the possibilities of Maderna (Congress) joining BJP," he said.
However, he said, "I hope after the manner in which the Congress treated Maderna and MLA Malkhan Singh Bishnoi (another accused in Bhanwari murder case and is currently in jail), they won't support Congress presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee and support BJP's choice (P A Sangma)."
Rathore, who was also in the Jodhpur Central jail, said he used to spent time with Maderna in the prison and has sympathy for him for the treatment meted out to him by Congress.
Rathore was released from the jail in May.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
