PANJIM, Jan. 31 -- BASURI DESAI

Why did Siddiqui alias Suleman Khan, the undertrial who escaped from Crime Branch custody on December 13, change his statements in the two videos he released during the nine days he was on the run? Fuelled by the discrepancies and the doubts raised by his rearrest, it's a question that has been doing the rounds for weeks even as the police have clammed up and tried to deflect all queries about the investigation.

However, the controversy flared up once more on Friday, with AAP Goa chief Amit Palekar claiming on Friday that he had reliable information that Siddiqui had recently told the Bicholim Court that he was held at gunpoint and forced to make the second video.

Adv Palekar said, "I am not sure, but I ...