Amit Shah should clarify delay in Kanhaiya Lal murder case: Former Rajasthan CM

Jaipur, Jul 17 (PTI) Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should clarify why there was delay in taking Kanhaiya Lal murder case to conclusion in court.

He said that the case was taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the night of the incident three years ago. Still, the central agency have not been able to even record statements, the former CM alleged.

Kanhaiya Lal Sahu, a tailor, was brutally murdered by cleaver wielding two men in Udaipur in June 2022. Gehlot was the chief minister of the state at the time.

"Our police had apprehended the accused within four hours of the incident. NIA took over the case in the night...but even after all this time, they have failed to make any headway," Gehlot said during a press conference at his residence.

"In many cases, decisions are made within six months but this case is still pending. The lack of action has made people question the effectiveness of the government," the senior Congress leader added.

Gehlot also took a swipe at BJP for false accusations and using the incident as a political tool during the election campaign.

"We gave government jobs to both sons and provided a compensation package worth Rs 50 lakh. This was the largest compensation package given to anyone post-independence," he said.

"(However) they falsely claimed that Kanhaiya Lal's family received only five lakh rupees while a Muslim family was given a compensation of Rs 50 lakh. They created Hindu-Muslim narrative and it contributed significantly to our defeat (in 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections)," he said.

Targeting the state government, he said that law and order is deteriorating in the BJP rule.

"Recently, a Dalit boy was kidnapped, stripped naked and taken from Alwar to Bundi. This is an indication of the growing fearlessness among people, and it is a worrying sign for the people of Rajasthan," Gehlot said. PTI SDA SHS AMJ AMJ