Mahipal Maderna dies of cancer, 2 months after getting bail in Bhanwari murder case

Jaipur: Shortly after getting bail in the Bhanwari Devi murder case, ex-minister of the Rajasthan government Mahipal Maderna passed away on Sunday after battling cancer over the past few years. Maderna was one of the most influential politicians in Marwar politics. His differences with chief minister Ashok Gehlot who is also from the same region hogged headlines several times during his political career.

Maderna remained behind bars for over 10 years after he was arrested in connection with the Bhanwari Devi murder case in December 2011 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He was the son of prominent politician Parasram Maderna. Well versed in law and administrative rules, Mahipal Maderna had a firm grasp on the bureaucracy. He was Zila Pramukh of Jodhpur Zila Parishad for 19 years.

Maderna was Water Resource Department minister when Congress came to power in 2008.

He became a suspect in the Bhanwari Devi murder case after a video showing him in a compromising situation with ANM Bhanwari Devi went viral. Subsequently, Bhanwari Devi went missing. Some bones suspected to be hers were later recovered and the investigation agencies presuming Bhanwari to be dead arrested Maderna for her murder.

Maderna contracted cancer in prison. He was released on bail in the Bhanwari Devi murder case in August 2021.