Jharsuguda/Bhubaneswar: The Brajarajnagar JMFC court on Wednesday allowed the Odisha Crime Branch (CB) to take Gopal Das, the lone accused in the alleged murder of Health Minister Naba Das, on 4-day remand for further questioning.
Meanwhile, a team from the investigating agency along with forensic experts is examining the vehicle used by the late minister at Badmal police station in Jharsuguda. A bullet had also hit the vehicle.
If sources are to be believed, Gopal had been stalking Naba for some time and made five failed attempts to assassinate him in the last fortnight. He visited Naba’s residence at Sarbahal in Jharsuguda with his loaded service revolver five times in the last 15 days.
The dismissed cop was reportedly upset as the minister had rebuffed his request for a job for a close relative and his own transfer to a police station near Berhampur, about three months ago, and had been looking for an opportunity to target him.
When he got to know about Naba’s programme, he sensed an opportunity to avenge his insult and managed to open fire on him from close range on January 29. The CB, however, is yet to ascertain conclusively the exact motive behind the incident.
Gopal has so far shown no sense of remorse or repentance. He looked composed and walked confidently while being taken to the court, the sources added.
