By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 29 Sep: Uttarakhand Police today finally arrested Babli Devi, an accused in the illicit liquor scam that led to the death of 12 villagers earlier this month in district Haridwar. Babli Devi contested the Village Pradhan election for Shivnagar Gram Panchayat of Haridwar. She had been absconding since the death of 12 villagers due to consumption of illicit liquor that was allegedly distributed by Babli Devi and her family.
However, despite the huge allegation that she had been facing and absconding from the village from where she was contesting, she still managed to win albeit by a single vote. She was arrested just the next day after being elected as Village Pradhan. She was later presented in the court. Another accused in the hooch case is still absconding. The Police claim that he will be arrested soon.
Police are raiding the possible places in his search. The SIT formed under the leadership of IPS officer Rekha Yadav is investigating the hooch scandal. On 11 September, SSP Dr Yogendra Singh Rawat had stated that Babli Devi, her husband Bijendra and Bijendra’s brother Naresh were the chief accused in the case. Bijendra, who is the main accused had been arrested by the Police soon after but Babli Devi and Bijendra’s brother Naresh had managed to flee. While Babli was arrested today by a team led by SHO Pawan Dimri, Naresh is still untraceable.
It may be recalled that the counting of votes for Panchayat Polls in district Haridwar was held yesterday. Babli was declared winner against her nearest rival candidate Swati. Babli secured 855 votes while her rival Swati got 848 votes but Swati appealed for a recount. In the recount, Babli got 859 votes while her rival Swati got 858 votes.
