Rita demands CBI probe into arson at her home

"To avoid any controversy and ensure an unbiased inquiry into the incident, the government has decided to transfer the probe to the CB-CID," Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters here.

He said that the decision to order a CB-CID probe was taken so that the opposition parties do not get a chance to raise questions over free and fair conduct of the inquiry.
Irrespective of the fact that whether those involved in the incident are associated with the BSP or the Congress, strict action will be taken against the guilty, he said.

"Joshi's house was vandalised and set on fire on July 15. The opposition parties have demanded that an independent inquiry should be ordered," he said.

He said the government wanted to assure the people that it does not believe in party politics on law and order issues.

"The government has not hesitated in taking action against its own MPs and MLAs if they are involved in wrong activities," he said.

Joshi, who is charged with making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati, today alleged that the July 15 arson was a "state-sponsored crime" and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.

Regarding the case against Joshi in Moradabad for her alleged derogatory remarks, Singh said that legal action would continue.

"The Congress (UP) President has been granted an interim bail by a court in Moradabad and July 29 is the next date of hearing. Legal action as per the law will continue against her and required formalities will be completed by the government so as to avoid any disruption," he said.

The UP Congress leader, arrested on Wednesday night, was booked under section 153A (delivering inflammatory speeches) and section 109 of IPC (using abusive language) besides provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for making remarks allegedly defamatory to Mayawati in connection with her government's compensation to rape victims.

The case was lodged in Majhola police station in Moradabad.
On the same night, Joshi's house in Lucknow was ransacked and set on fire allegedly by BSP workers.

The Congress alleged the involvement of BSP MLA Jitendra Singh Babloo and another party leader Intezaar Ahamad Abdi in the incident.

Names of the two leaders were incorporated in the FIR lodged by the police.