Gopal Das Acted Alone: Odisha Crime Branch Frames Charges In Naba Das’ Murder Case

Jharsuguda: Nearly four months after the sensational murder of Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, Odisha Crime Branch on Friday submitted a 543-page preliminary chargesheet in the case in Jharsuguda JMFC Court.

According to sources, charges have been framed against the main accused, Gopal Das, under Sections 307, 302 and 27 (1) of the Arms Act and the murder attributed to past enmity. It is based on the statements of eyewitnesses and reports of scientific team against the dismissed ASI, who pulled the trigger on Naba Das while he was on his way to attend an official programme on January 29.

WHAT DOES THE CHARGESHEET SAY

The chargesheet revealed that personal grudge against the minister was the reason why Gopal Das killed him and this was confirmed in the LVA and Narco tests. It further sad that the accused planned and executed the murder alone. There was no conspiracy or support from anyone else.

He felt threatened from Naba Das and supporters and feared for his life and gradually, made up his mind to commit the murder.

Notably, the opposition BJP and Congress had been harping on conspiracy angle in the case.

“The mental condition of Gopal Das was quite normal and there was no abnormality. He was cooperative in the investigation and replied to all the questions asked in cogent manner,” the chargesheet further said, adding that he committed the crime in his senses and in a pre-planned manner.

Gopal Das was “deployed for traffic clearance duty” for the minister’s programme in Jharsuguda district and fired on him from very close range using his 9mm service pistol. The Minister was airlifted to Bhubaneswar and died in hospital as one of the bullets fired had entered and exited his body, injuring the heart and left lung and causing massive internal bleeding.

The accused was posted in Jharasuguda district in 2013 while his family lived in Jaleswarkhandi on the outskirts of Berhampur. Following the incident, his wife Jayanti told the journalists that he was being treated for “psychological issues” for the last 7-8 years. He was under medication, a fact which State Police could not confirm, though.

A sessions court in Jharsuguda district, however, had turned down CB’s request to take him to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bengaluru for evaluation while referring to medical board, comprising experts from the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital, report, which suggested that he was mentally sound.

During his service in the Odisha Police, Gopal Das got 18 citations and nine rewards for exemplary performance.