Sengar a hard nut to crack after over 16-hour grilling

LUCKNOW: Even after over 16 hours’ interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar proved a hard nut to crack, people familiar with the probe said.

After a CBI team picked him up from Indira Nagar early on Friday and brought him to the agency’s Hazratganj office, officials grilled him for hours, but Sengar evaded questions, they said.

When the CBI officers questioned him, Sengar told the officers he had not committed rape and termed the charges a conspiracy by local criminals to tarnish his image, those privy to the investigation said.

The CBI team also questioned him about his association with policemen posted at Makhi police station and doctors posted at the Unnao district hospital, they added.

The six policemen, posted at Makhi police station, who were suspended after the death of the rape victim’s father, were brought to the CBI office for interrogation. Sengar said he had never met them.

When Sengar continued to evade the queries, the CBI officers decided to arrest him at 9.30 pm.

The CBI has collected call detail records of his mobile phone. All through the day on Friday, speculation was rife that Sengar was likely to be produced any time in the CBI court. He is likely to be produced in

court on Saturday when the CBI may move an application for his custody remand. Additional district judge (7) (Remand) Sunil Kumar is likely to take up the CBI’s application.

Usually, the court functions from 4pm to 5pm on holidays. Saturday is a holiday on account of Ambedkar Jayanti.The CBI will grill him again after taking him on remand.