Ex-Rajasthan top cop on CBI’s most wanted poster

At the head of the “wanted” list of the Central Bureau of Investigation, a top cop in Rajasthan is now an absconder, his property soon to be attached by the court.

Additional director general of police Arvind Kumar Jain was suspended for his involvement in the Dara Singh encounter case. On Thursday, a special CBI court in Jaipur ordered that his property be attached.

Jain was declared an absconder on May 15 after he failed to turn up for questioning by the CBI. Jain is accused of maneuvering a reward of Rs 25,000 on Singh, who worked for liquor contractors in Churu. He had announced the reward on October 18, 2006, without informing senior officers. On October 23, 2006, the special operations group Jain headed, killed Singh in an encounter at Jaipur’s Mansarovar.

On August 8, after the Supreme Court directed the CBI to arrest all the absconders in the case, the agency promised rewards for information on them. Jain is on top of the list, along with additional superintendent of police Arshad Ali, sub inspectors Rajesh Choudhary and Julfikar Ali, head constable Arvind Bharadwaj and liquor contractor Vijay Kumar Choudhary.

Last month, a special CBI court in Jaipur declared all of them proclaimed offenders.

Jain had applied for anticipatory bail at a sessions court on May 14. After the application was rejected, he appealed to the Rajasthan high court on July 6. But that appeal was turned down too.

Jain’s family is still living at the accommodation provided by the government in Gandhi Nagar. Since his suspension on June 3, half his salary is being credited to his account. His official car and two policemen posted as his security guards were withdrawn. Jain’s family refused to talk to the media.

Director general of police Harish Chandra Meena said the police were cooperating with the CBI. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the government was supporting the agency in its investigations.