Odisha Minister Naba Das Murder: CB Searches Septic Tank At Jharsuguda Airport PS To Retrieve ‘Evidence’

Jharsuguda: In its bid to retrieve evidence in Odisha Minister Naba Das murder case, the Crime Branch searched a septic tank at the Jharsuguda Airport police station after lone accused Gopal Das reportedly revealed that he had dumped some letters in the wash room there.

During interrogation, the dismissed policeman reportedly told the Crime Branch sleuths that he had disposed of his handwritten letters inside the airport police station wash room and flushed it. He was reported to have mentioned about the reason behind killing the Minister, sources said.

After the revelation, a team of police personnel took the former ASI to the Airport Police Station amid tight security late on Wednesday night and returned after the search operation.

The team engaged sewage workers who dug out the sewage tank at the police station in an effort to retrieve the letters.

Though the team was reported to have found the letter, its text was stated to have been erased. The recovered letter is being sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Bhubaneswar for examination, sources said. However, the Crime Branch is yet to disclose details.

After being held by police on the day of the murder on January 29, Gopal was initially taken to the Jharsuguda Airport police station, where he had allegedly tried to destroy the letter.

The Crime Branch has taken the accused on a 4-day remand foro sustained interrogation after getting permission from the Court of JMFC, Brajarajnagar on Wednesday.

Crime Branch ADG Arun Bothra had earlier said that accused Gopal Das has confessed to the crime during questioning.

According to the FIR filed at Brajarajnagar police station, Gopal Das had fired at the minister near Gandhi Chowk at Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district with a clear intention to kill.