NEW DELHI, March 21 (Reuters) - A policewoman in India was arrested on Wednesday for taking bribes and supressing evidence linked to the gruesome murders of about 20 women and children in the outskirts of New Delhi, an official said.

The case, which shocked the nation, came to light in December when human remains -- including body parts and skulls, mostly of children -- were found in the backyard and drain of a rich businessman's house in Noida, a satellite town of the capital.

The businessman, Moninder Singh Pandher, and his domestic servant, Surender Koli, are the main accused in the case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) -- which took over the case after accusations of lapses by the police -- said Simranjit Kaur, a junior officer, had been arrested by the CBI on Wednesday.

"She (Kaur) was arrested today as she has some kind of involvement in the case," CBI spokesman G. Mohanty said.

"Kaur was not involved in the actual killings but she supressed evidence and was found to be taking bribes from Moninder Singh, one of the key accused in the case." Mohanty said Kaur had been sacked in January. Five other police officers have also been dismissed from their posts and three others have been suspended for dereliction of duty in the case.

A federal government investigation has criticised the police and local officials, accusing them of ignoring the reports of missing children for more than two years mainly because they were from poor families. (Additional reporting by Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow)

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