The alleged custodial death of the ruling National Conference worker, Sayeed Mohammad Yusuf took a new turn on Tuesday when the state crime branch presented another NC activist Mohammad Yusuf Bhat in a local court to record his statement.

Bhat had alleged that he paid Rs 85 lakh to Sayeed for a ministerial berth.

Following the allegation, the State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had called Sayeed, Bhat and another worker Abdul Salam Reshi to his residence and later they were handed over to the state crime branch.

It was during his custody that Sayeed had died during the night intervening September 29 and 30.

A case of cheating under Section 420 and criminal breach of trust was subsequently registered by the state crime branch against the deceased.

On Tuesday, Bhat was presented by the investigating officer, deputy superintendent of police crime branch in the court of chief judicial magistrate Ganderbal to record his statement under Section 164 as a prosecution witness against Sayeed.

An anti-corruption court it may be mentioned today rejected the plea of the family of Sayeed Mohammad Yusuf for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.