BJP MP’s nephew arrested in RTI activist murder case

GANDHINAGAR - The nephew of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, was Tuesday arrested in the murder of Right to Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethwa, officials said.

Ahmedabad crime branch chief Mohan Jha said Shiva Solanki, an office-bearer of the Kodinar municipality, had been picked up from Rajkot while on his way to board a flight for Mumbai. He is the fourth to be arrested in the case.

Jethwa, shot by two unidentified motor-cycle borne assailants opposite the high court July 20, had taken on the illegal mining in the vicinity of the Sasan Gir lion sanctuary and the coastal Saurashtra belt. The high court ordered a survey of all mining going on in the region after he filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue.

Though shot from close range, he courageously took on his assailants, pulling them off the vehicle and forcing them to flee on foot, leaving behind telltale evidence including the vehicle.

The other three people arrested so far included Bahadursinh Vadher, a police constable, Pachan Shiva, who was allegedly one of the two motorcycle-borne assailants, and Sanjay Chauhan. Solanki’s arrest came after one of the arrested revealed his involvement.

The activist’s father Bhikabhai Jethwa had alleged that the BJP MP was behind murder.