Bahuguna rejects judicial probe into firing incident

Says it is needed only when the police is not capable of investigating the case

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has rejected the Opposition's demand for a judicial probe into the firing incident at state Agriculture Minister's residence in which a Congress MLA's name has cropped up.

Rejecting the Opposition's demand for the judicial probe, Bahuguna said it is needed only when the police is not capable of investigating a case.

The alleged firing by Congress MLA from Khanpur, Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, during the party at Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat's official residence has landed the government in a soup with the Opposition clamouring for a judicial probe on the floor of the Assembly which is in session.

A delegation of main opposition BJP last evening met Governor Aziz Qureshi demanding a judicial probe into the incident and action against the Congress MLA.

Former chief minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank and Leader of Opposition Ajay Bhatt who were part of the delegation said the Governor has taken serious note of the incident and assured them of necessary action.

No case has so far been lodged against the Congress MLA.

A case has been lodged against an unidentified person in connection with the incident and investigations are going on, police said.

Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat has refused to comment on the incident while Congress leader Vivekanand Khanduri who sustained injuries in the incident has also maintained a studied silence on the issue.

The Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna was also evasive on the issue saying no one is above the law which will take its own course.