Jethava murder: ‘Missing’ MP says not guilty in ads

27-07-2010
Jethava murder: 'Missing' MP says not guilty in ads
Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Jethava-murder---Missing--MP-says-not-guilty-in-ads/652252

"Missing" BJP MP from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, put out an advertisement in three Gujarati dailies on Monday, claiming he had no enmity with Amit Jethava, the RTI activist who was shot dead near the Gujarat High Court a few days ago.

Since Jethava's killing, the MP has not been seen in public and the Junagadh police, which provide him security, said they last saw him on July 18. The Ahmedabad police probing Jethava's murder said they have got "vital clues".

Dinu Solanki is said to be a close aide of Amit Shah, the former home minister now in judicial custody.

Junagadah SP incharge Maninder Pawar said the MP was last seen on July 18 at a Garib Kalyan Mela function. "We have no idea where he is now," said Pawar. Solanki did not attend the Parliament session on Monday in Delhi either.

In Ahmedabad, the police have traced the vehicle used by the two assailants who shot Jethava. "One of them appears to be a history-sheeter. We have also sought details about complaints registered against and by Jethava in Amreli and Junagadh districts," Ahmedabad police said.

Police officers investigating the case said, "We cannot give details of the seized vehicle or of the suspect. But we have got leads."

They said the killing seemed well-coordinated at three levels. "It appears that a middleman might have given supari (a contract to kill) to the two persons who shot Jethava," they said.

DCP Zone-I, Brijesh Kumar Jha, refused to elaborate. "The police are talking to Jethava's friends and relatives who spoke to him a few hours before the incident took place."

What the ad says
MP Shri Dinubhai Solanki's Public Clarification I had no enmity with Amit Jethava. The PIL filed in High Court on illegal mines has no impact on the ones working in my name spread over two-and-a-half acres because following the Supreme Court order, these mines have been closed since 2005. This PIL does not help or affect me adversely in any way.

It is possible the sad incident could have been a result of to the impact of Amit Jethava's PIL on other legal and illegal mine operators.

According to my information, Amitbhai frequently filed public interest litigations (PILs) in the Gujarat High Court, which affected different subjects, due to which this incident (Jethava's murder) could have taken place.

I have learnt through newspapers that Amit Jethava had confided to his lawyer friend that Dinubhai would be upset with his petition, but they perhaps do not know that the lease of the mines mentioned in the PIL have expired.