Bhawanipatna: Even as the reported suicide of Gobinda Sahu, the prime accused in the Mamita Meher murder case, has assumed a political colour with opposition parties demanding a CBI probe, his family has alleged that he was murdered.
Speaking to the media soon after the news of Gobinda’s suicide was flashed in local TV channels, his wife Susama Sahu said she had talked to her husband at around 11 am on Monday. “He enquired about health condition of our son and his mother. He also said that he was keeping well inside the jail.”
“My husband was a mentally strong person. Why would he commit suicide? There was no reason for him to take the extreme step. Since he was in jail, it is the responsibility of the police and jail authorities to ensure his well-being. He was a victim of well-planned conspiracy by the influential people, who were involved in Mamita murder case, to eliminate him,” she added.
She further said she would file a police complaint alleging murder of Gobinda and seeking high-level inquiry into the incident.
Earlier in the day, opposition BJP and Congress demanded a CBI probe into the circumstances that led to the death of Gobinda alleging a major conspiracy behind it. Senior BJP leader and MP Basanta Panda said the Gobinda’s death in a mysterious condition has triggered suspicion as he was slated to be produced before a court later on Tuesday.
There is every possibility that Sahu might have been eliminated as part of a big conspiracy to save high-profile leaders in the case, he claimed, demanding a high-level probe into the incident to ascertain whether it was a case of murder or suicide.
Senior Congress leader and MLA Santosh Singh Saluja also alleged a big conspiracy behind Sahu’s death to shield influential people including the former minister. It appears to be a case of murder and not suicide, he said. Both BJP and Congress said a CBI probe into the incident will unravel the truth.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) Sunil Kumar Bansal has ordered a Crime Branch probe into the death of Gobinda.
On Tuesday, Gobinda attempted to end his life inside Kantabanji jail in Bolangir district by hanging himself. He was rushed to a hospital but doctors declared him brought dead.
