Odisha: BJD Lists Out Cases Referred To FBI By CBI Amid Opposition Backlash

Bhubaneswar: Amid Opposition backlash, the BJD on Wednesday defended the Odisha government’s decision to seek the US-based Federal Bureau of Investigation’s help for behavioural analysis of the lone accused in Naba Kishore Das’ murder case, Gopal Das.

Briefing the media at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi, Rajya Sabha member from BJD Sasmit Patra listed more than 25 cases, including Bhanwari Devi murder case, Sunanda Pushkar death case and the murder of national-level shooter Sippy Sidhu, which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had referred to the FBI. “Gopal was subjected to narcoanalysis by the experts at Gujarat State Forensic Science Laboratory which is the best in the country. Forensic psychological assessment and layered voice analysis test of the accused were done by experts from Central Forensic Science Laboratory, New Delhi, which is a central government institution. Now, the help of the FBI has been sought for behavioural analysis of the accused,” he said.

Sasmit informed that a letter has been sent to the Centre to facilitate an evaluation by the FBI.

He further said that a retired High Court Judge has been nominated by the Orissa High Court to monitor the ongoing Crime Branch investigation. “This indicates the high-quality investigation that is being done to ensure transparency. Odisha BJP can carry on with its dirty and cheap politics because they know nothing except politicising sensitive criminal cases,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in his statement on the murder case and the ongoing probe in the Assembly, had expressed shock over the manner in which ‘this very sensitive case’ was being politicised.

Refuting this allegation, the BJP leaders claimed that the Crime Branch probe had gone completely off track and they want the real killer to be traced, the handler of Gopal identified, and the motive behind the killing ascertained.

Also Read: Odisha Govt Ready For FBI But Not CBI, BJP Leaders Take A Swipe At CM’s Statement In Assembly

They also slammed the BJD-led government for shying away from handing over the case to CBI despite conducting all tests through central agencies and instead reposing faith in an international agency.