Odisha CM To Take Final Call On CBI Probe Into Naba Das Murder: Law Minister

Bhubaneswar: A day after BJD leader Dipali Das asked the Odisha government to clear its stance on CBI probe into the murder of her father Naba Kishore Das, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Thursday said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi would take the final call on any investigation by the central agency.

Naba Kishore Das was gunned down by a policeman at Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district on January 29, 2023, while serving as Health Minister in the previous BJD regime.

A day after Dipali, former Jharsuguda MLA, raised the issue, Harichandan told reporters that investigation by the Crime Branch into the sensational murder did not yield any positive result as his family failed to make its stance clear on the issue.

The Minister further stated that the BJP, then in the opposition, was also demanding for a CBI probe into the matter claiming that the truth behind the case wouldn’t be unravelled through the crime branch investigation.

“Although the person who fired the bullets was arrested, when we asked the reason why he opened fire and at whose instance he committed the crime, the then BJD-led state government had no answers. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will decide whether to reopen the case or to take any other step in the matter,” said Harichandan.

Naba Das’s daughter Dipali on Wednesday sought to whether the Mohan Majhi-led government in the state would initiate a CBI investigation into her father’s murder.

“Two BJP legislators raised the issue in the state Assembly and the CM himself had assured a probe into it. Six to seven months have passed since then but no police officer has contacted my family in this regard. Meanwhile, one-sided reports are being broadcast, pointing fingers at my family and questioning our position on it. Some BJP leaders are also levelling false accusations against me, questioning my love for my father. We feel mentally harassed by such allegations. Today I have just one question, will the BJP government stand by us and order a CBI investigation into the death of my father?” she asked, pointing at lack of clarity on the issue.

She also alleged that some sections of the media and people on social media are making derogatory comments about her and her family questioning them for not demanding a CBI probe into the matter. She said that her family is undergoing severe mental trauma over these remarks.

Deepali clarified that his family is all for an investigation by the central agency into the broad daylight murder of her father.

In August, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had told the media that the BJP government would reopen Naba Das’ case along with assassination of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in 2008, Kalahandi teacher Mamita Meher in 2022.

The BJP had also demanded a CBI probe into the murder while in Opposition in the state. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari had raised the issue in Lok Sabha as an MP, in February 2023, demanding a probe by the central agency to dig out the reason as to why the policeman killed Naba Das.