INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - OCTOBER 21^st - NOVEMBER 15^th - 2007

CBI BEGINS INTERROGATION IN RIZWANUR DEATH CASE

After the West Bengal government dragged its feet over the Rizwanur Rehman death case for nearly a month, the CBI now seems to be desperately trying to make good the invaluable time that's already been wasted.

The agency interrogated as many as 11 people in connection with the murder, including Priyanka's uncle Pradip Todi. CBI officials are also considering exhumation of Rizwanur's body for a second post-mortem, if AIIMS officials are not satisfied with the present one.

According to sources in CBI, persons interrogated in the last two days include the driver and guard of the train which had supposedly hit Rizwanur; Sujato Bhadra, general secretary of the Association of Protection of Democratic Rights whom Rizwanur had contacted for help; three of Rizwanur's colleagues from office, his elder brother and his wife and other relatives from his family.

The list also includes Madhabi Chandoke, student and Pompi Roy, a long time friend of Rizwanur. Apart from this, the sleuths also visited Rizwanur's Tiljala home and spent and spent about 3 hours, learning the full sequence of events since August 31, the day Priyanka had moved in, till September 21 when Rizwanur's body was found.