VILLAGERS ASSAULT CBI TEAM PROBING GRAFT CASE

GREATERNOIDA: Five members of a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were abducted and assaulted by villagers in Greater Noida on Saturday morning when they reached the house of the CBI assistant sub-inspector, who has been accused of bribery to influence the investigation into the ₹126 crore Yamuna authority land irregularity case.

According to police, the CBI team had reached Sunpura village in Greater Noida to arrest Sunil Dutt, the ASI who is currently on the run. The CBI officials, led by Inspector GS Meena, were allegedly abducted by the family members and neighbours of Dutt and the group the snatched the officers’ mobile phones and documents, and assaulted them. Two members of the CBI team also sustained injuries in the assault.

“We received information that a few residents of Sunpura village have misbehaved with a CBI team. A team was sent to the spot immediately to rescue the team. A few residents were also detained as part of the investigation,” Vineet Jaiswal, superintendent of police (rural), said.

Based on the complaint of inspector GS Meena, Ecotech 3 police station team lodged a case against nine persons and arrested the brother of Dutt.

“We have booked five family members of Dutt and four other unknown persons under the Indian Penal Code for dacoity and abduction. We have also arrested Yudhveer Dutt, brother of prime accused,” Anita Chauhan, SHO, Ecotech 3 police station, said.

A CBI spokesperson said, “A CBI team comprising an inspector , sub-inspector, two constables and a woman constable had gone to the village Sunpura in search of Dutt to serve him a notice. The team was attacked by members of his extended family and others in order to help Dutt escape.”

“The team was beaten. It is also alleged that the mobile phones, diaries and IDS of some team members were burnt. The team was kept hostage. Dutt fled through the back door in the meantime. The local police reached the spot and rescued the CBI team,” the spokesperson added.