BJD pressuring kin to refrain from CBI probe into Naba murder: BJP MP
Bhubaneswar: BJP’s Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit on Sunday accused the BJD of pressuring the family of former minister Naba Das to not seek a CBI probe into his murder case.
Naba, who was a cabinet minister and prominent BJD functionary, was gunned down by assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Gopal Das during a public event in Jharsuguda district on Jan 29, 2023. About two months ago, Naba’s daughter Dipali, a BJD member and former Jharsuguda MLA, said her intention was to submit a petition to the govt within a week, requesting a CBI investigation.
“In Jan this year, Naba Das’s family members told that they would submit the petition within a week. But they are being pressured and intimidated by the BJD now. If a CBI investigation is ordered into the murder case, two high-profile BJD members will land in trouble,” Purohit told the media.
The daylight killing of a cabinet minister (Naba) was concerning, Purohit said, adding, “his family members made a compromise then and remained silent on the crime branch investigation“.
BJD dismissed the allegations and supported the crime branch investigation. “Investigation into the cabinet minister’s killing was on the right track. The main and lone accused, Gopal Das, was arrested the same day. A chargesheet has already been filed and the trial has commenced. If the BJP is alleging political conspiracy, they can get the case investigated by anyone,” BJD’s Lanjigarh MLA, Pradip Kumar Dishari, said.
Following Dipali’s recent request for a CBI investigation, the crime branch invited her and other family members to present any new evidence or information they possess as a part of its closure report.
The crime branch’s chargesheet rejected political and business-related motives for Naba’s murder, stating there was no conspiracy, and Gopal committed the crime alone. The document stated that Gopal’s actions were driven by personal animosity and his unsubstantiated concerns about threats from Naba and his supporters. The chargesheet outlined specific incidents that led to Gopal’s perception of potential danger from Naba and his associates, prompting him to murder Naba.
Naba, who was a cabinet minister and prominent BJD functionary, was gunned down by assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Gopal Das during a public event in Jharsuguda district on Jan 29, 2023. About two months ago, Naba’s daughter Dipali, a BJD member and former Jharsuguda MLA, said her intention was to submit a petition to the govt within a week, requesting a CBI investigation.
“In Jan this year, Naba Das’s family members told that they would submit the petition within a week. But they are being pressured and intimidated by the BJD now. If a CBI investigation is ordered into the murder case, two high-profile BJD members will land in trouble,” Purohit told the media.
The daylight killing of a cabinet minister (Naba) was concerning, Purohit said, adding, “his family members made a compromise then and remained silent on the crime branch investigation“.
BJD dismissed the allegations and supported the crime branch investigation. “Investigation into the cabinet minister’s killing was on the right track. The main and lone accused, Gopal Das, was arrested the same day. A chargesheet has already been filed and the trial has commenced. If the BJP is alleging political conspiracy, they can get the case investigated by anyone,” BJD’s Lanjigarh MLA, Pradip Kumar Dishari, said.
Following Dipali’s recent request for a CBI investigation, the crime branch invited her and other family members to present any new evidence or information they possess as a part of its closure report.
The crime branch’s chargesheet rejected political and business-related motives for Naba’s murder, stating there was no conspiracy, and Gopal committed the crime alone. The document stated that Gopal’s actions were driven by personal animosity and his unsubstantiated concerns about threats from Naba and his supporters. The chargesheet outlined specific incidents that led to Gopal’s perception of potential danger from Naba and his associates, prompting him to murder Naba.
