Odisha Minister Naba Das Murder: CB Questions Psychiatrist Of Accused Gopal In Berhampur

Berhampur: The Odisha Crime Branch, which is investigating the murder of Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, questioned the psychiatrist in Berhampur who was treating the accused ASI Gopal Das.

For the first time after the killing of Naba Das, the Crime Branch sleuths went to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur and questioned Prof Chandra Sekhar Tripathy, Head of Psychiatric Department. Gopal was under Dr Tripathy’s treatment for psychological problems. The team also questioned Prof Dr Abanikanta Mishra, Dean, MKCG on the issue.

Following the minister’s death in firing by the ASI in Jharsuguda, Gopal’s wife Jayanti had stated before the media that her husband was a mental patient. Though Gopal was under medication for the last 8 years, he was not taking medicines regularly, she had said.

Earlier, Dr Tripathy had clarified that Gopal was suffering from Bipolar Affective Disorder which is associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. But the Crime Branch team is silent over what the doctor revealed during the questioning.

The Crime Branch team also interrogated Pradip Behera, an advocate and Abhaya Kumar Sahu, both classmates of Gopal in Khallikote College during 1985, in the Circuit House. Abhaya earlier said Naba Das had slapped Gopal during a helmet checking drive when the former was the Congress MLA of Jharsuguda. Gopal was hurt to a great extent, Abhaya said.

It may be noted that the Crime Branch has taken Gopal on 4-day remand for sustained interrogation after getting permission from the Court of JMFC, Brajrajnagar on Wednesday.