One of the main accused in the missing nurse Bhanwari Devi case, Om Prakash Bishnoi, on Wednesday refused to record his statement before the magistrate and was remanded to judicial custody.

The CBI had moved an application in the court yesterday for recording Bishnoi's statements, and brought him to the court on Wednesday. However, he refused to record the statement and came out, sources said.

The CBI court later sent him to judicial custody.

According to the legal experts, the statements of the three members of Bishan Ram gang are important for CBI to gain a firm grip in the case.

However, the evidences and belongings of Bhanwari, collected by the CBI from Jaloda would play a crucial role.

The CBI is also searching another gang member Ashok Bishnoi.

The statements of at least one of the three will protect the CBI from their getting hostile in the court.

Meanwhile, in another development, the court on Monday declared Indra Bishnoi along with Pukh Raj absconder.

"The court also ordered to attach their properties," told S S Yadav, counsel for CBI.

Arrest warrants had been issued by the same court against all of them on December 23.

All the three had tried to obtain anticipatory bail from the court but their application was rejected by the court.

They continue to be the crucial accused in the case for the CBI, as the agency was planning to file a charge sheet in mid February.

Indra played a crucial role in the abduction and purported killing of Bhanwari Devi.

The CBI had informed the Rajasthan High Court yesterday that Bhanwari was no more and requested the court to quash the habeas corpus petition filed by her husband Amarchand.