Congress veteran Mahipal Maderna, an accused in Bhanwari murder case, dies

JODHPUR/JAIPUR: Congress veteran and former minister Mahipal Maderna (69), accused in the sensational Bhanwari Devi abduction and murder case, passed away on Sunday morning. He had been diagnosed with cancer and breathed his last at his residence in Jodhpur at about 6.30am.
A two-time MLA, Maderna had spent 10 years in prison after his alleged involvement in the Bhanwari Devi case in 2011.He was diagnosed with stage IV malignancy in his oral cavity and had been undergoing treatment first in Mumbai and then Chennai.
The Rajasthan High Court had first granted interim bail to him in September last year. Due to deteriorating health, he was given permanent bail in August this year. He is survived by his wife Leela Maderna, who was elected Jodhpur zila pramukh in September 2021, while his daughter Divya Maderna has been representing the Osian assembly segment in Jodhpur since 2018. CM Ashok Gehlot, PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra, MLA Tonk Sachin Pilot and West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar offered their condolences on twitter.

“His body has been taken to his parental village Chadi in Osian subdivision of Jodhpur and the funeral will be held in the evening”, said Ram Prakash, a family friend. Son of the Congress doyen, the late Parasram Maderna, he was sacked on October 16, 2011, few days after he was arrested for his alleged role in the abduction and murder of Devi. Having served as Jodhpur zila pramukh for 17 years, Maderna was seen as the only challenge to the hegemony of Ashok Gehlot.
“His body was consigned to flames in his ancestral village Chadi in Osian subdivision in Jodhpur in the evening with the state honour.
He had been suffering from stage IV malignancy in his oral cavity and had been undergoing treatment after admission in hospitals first at Mumbai and then Chennai,” said Ram Prakash, a family friend.
Forest and Environment minister Sukhram Bishnoi was present at the funeral representing the state government along with many political leaders, present and past MLAs, pradhans and sarpanches. Before this, his mortal remains were taken to village Chadi in the morning after a brief ceremonial tribute at his residence.