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Advani rules out probe into Pilot's accident

Union Home Minister L K Advani ruled out a special probe into the accident in which senior Congress leader Rajesh Pilot was killed yesterday.

Pilot was returning from his constituency Dausa, when the jeep he was driving collided with a Rajasthan Roadways bus.

Adavni told rediff.com this morning that if a prima facie case established foul play, the government would not hesitate to order a special probe.

"On the face of it, it looks like an accident. So, I do not think there is any need for a probe at this point of time."

"The Rajasthan police is already investigating the matter. If the investigations establish foul play, then we will not hesitate to institute a probe," Advani said.

He was reacting to the demand made by some senior Congress leaders that the centre should probe the accident. Former home minister Buta Singh blamed the government for the accident, since it had withdrawn Pilot's Z plus security a few weeks back. "Pilot wouldn't have met with this accident because another escort car would have been leading his cavalcade. Even I had a narrow escape recently," he said.

Former director general of police and a close friend of Pilot, K P S Gill, said a special probe can be instituted only if there was a suspicion of foul play. "This is an accident and nothing will come out of it even if a probe is ordered. But I am of the firm opinion that a protected person should never drive a vehicle, as he has far too much on his head and driving needs concentration," Gill told rediff.com.

Sources in the home ministry rejected Buta Singh charge. "Now that an accident has taken place, everyone is raising a hue and cry about it. I think he is more concerned about withdrawal of his own security," said a top official of the home ministry.

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