Congress Member of Legislative Assembly Sukhdev Panse and 64 others were arrested in Betul, Madhya Pradesh in connection with the 2007 Pardhi case that is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, police said on Tuesday.
Panse, along with 64 others, surrendered at the Multai police station on Monday and the police arrested them, following issuance of an arrest warrant against them by a special CBI court.
The arrested people were taken to Jabalpur. They will be produced before the court on Tuesday
In September 2007, a woman belonging to Kunbi community was allegedly gang-raped and murdered by some Pardhi tribals.
Following the incident, a large number of people, including MLA Panse, allegedly attacked and set afire the houses of Pardhi tribals in Chouthia Dhana village.
Two tribals were allegedly killed in the attack.
A case was registered against unidentified persons by the local police at that time.
Later, social activist Anurag Modi had filed a complaint in the high court.
In 2009, the high court had ordered a CBI probe in the case, after which the premier investigation agency registered an FIR under various sections of the IPC, identified the accused, including the elected representatives, and submitted its report in the special court.
The court then issued an arrest warrant against them. On Monday 65 people, including the MLA, were arrested.
Six persons were arrested by the police in this regard nearly two months ago, while some others are yet to be nabbed, said the police.
