Jaisalmer: A team from Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has set up camp at Barmer circuit house to further investigate the killing of Kamlesh Prajapati by police in an “encounter” on the night of April 22, 2021, in Barmer district. The team has to submit a report before court within two months. On April 16 this year, the ACJM (CBI) court had rejected the CBI’s closure report and ordered a murder case to be filed against 24 police personnel, including two IPS officers. Additionally, the court ordered an investigation into the role of then revenue minister and current Baytu MLA Harish Chaudhary and his brother Manish Chaudhary in the alleged encounter.CBI had argued before court that the evidence collected made it difficult to prove that Prajapati was killed in a fake encounter. Prajapati’s wife, Jashoda, challenged the closure report. Her lawyer, Arjunsingh Rathore, presented evidence claiming the encounter was fake. He also accused former minister Harish Chaudhary of involvement in the fake encounter.On April 23, 2021, then DSP of Barmer police’s SC-ST Cell, Pushpendra Adha, filed a report at Sadar police station stating that Kamlesh Prajapati, a smuggler, was killed in retaliatory police action following a deadly attack by him. The killing of Prajapati led to protests by then Pachpadra MLA Madan Prajapat and community members. Govt handed over the investigation to CBI on May 31, 2021. The CBI in its closure report dismissed the family’s claims of a fake encounter.
