Purnea, Jan. 5: Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi today ruled out the immediate possibility of handing over the case of BJP MLA Rajkishore Keshari’s murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Modi told reporters here that the state police was competent enough to conduct Keshari’s murder probe. He said: “If required, the case would later be handed over to the CBI.”

The NDA leaders in the Kosi and Seemanchal region have been demanding a CBI inquiry into the murder.

Former Union minister and veteran JD (U) leader of Seemanchal Mohammad Taslimuddin and BJP state general secretary Rajendra Gupta believe there was a conspiracy behind Keshari’s murder. They have demanded a CBI investigation to expose the conspiracy.

“Why did the woman kill Keshari? Maybe she was blackmailing Keshari, but what prompted her to take such a drastic action? There must be some conspiracy behind the incident,” Taslimuddin told The Telegraph here.

Echoing him, a few BJP leaders cited that Pathak had lodged a case of alleged sexual abuse and then refused to record her statement under Section 164 of IPC in the court. However, raising questions on Modi’s statement, party workers alleged that Modi has been trying to suppress facts and shielding prominent people.

Uday Singh, the BJP MP from Purnea, who opposed Keshari’s nomination for the Assembly polls, has refused to comment on the murder.

A senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said: “At the time of the distribution of tickets, the BJP state headquarters had witnessed a pitched battle between Uday, alias Pappu Singh, and Keshari over the Purnea ticket. Finally, the party’s national headquarters had confirmed Keshari’s ticket because of Modi’s intervention.”

Senior police officers said they have received vital clues in the murder after interrogating Pathak at Katihar Medical College and Hospital today. She was admitted to the hospital after Keshari’s supporters beat her up.

Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered in Purnea to bid farewell to Keshari on Wednesday evening. Keshari was cremated with full state honours, with his son lighting the pyre amid tight security at the family’s ancestral place in Chunapur.

The funeral was over peacefully with the slain MLA’s supporters chanting “Rajkishore Keshari amar rahe (Long live Rajkishore Keshari).”