Gopal Das submitted fitness certificate twice before Naba Das murder: Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: Dismissed police ASI Gopal Das had submitted fitness certificate pertaining to his treatment for psychiatric disorder twice much before the murder of former Odisha Health Minister Naba Das at Brajarajnagar on January 29.

This was revealed by Minister of State for Home Tusharkanti Behera in the Assembly today.

Gopal Das had remained absent in his office unauthorizedly from February 3, 2014 to Aparil 3, 2014. He had submitted fitness certificate and other documents pertaining to his treatment for psychiatric disorder (bipolar affective disorder) at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur and urged his higher authorities to consider his absence from service as leave (EL) period. His request was accepted and he was allowed to resume his work, said the minister while replying to separate questions of Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra and BJP MLA Subash Chandra Panigrahi in the House today.

According to the minister, Gopal Das once again remained absent from his work unauthorisedly from March 1, 2015 to June 27, 2015. Das, later, submitted his fitness certificate and other documents pertaining to his treatment for bipolar disorder and urged his higher authorities to consider his absence from work as leave period (EL). His requested was also accepted by the higher-ups, said the Minister in the Assembly.

Accused Gopal Das had sought leave on 41 occasions in between 2014 and 2022 for various reasons including treatment of his wife and brother. However, he had never applied for leave citing his medical treatment for bipolar disorder. Das had never submitted any representation for his transfer, said the minister.

The minister further revealed that Gopal Das’ performance as a policeman in the last 10 years appeared to be satisfactory.

Das had investigated altogether 299 cases as Investigating Officer (IO) during the last 10 years of his service period, added the minister.

Gopal had been rewarded on at least 12 occasions for his remarkable performance as a police personnel in between 2013 and 2020, the minister revealed in the Assembly. During his tenure in Odisha police, Gopal had done good work during the Nabakalebara festival of Lord Jagannath in Puri. He had also performed well in his service during the visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts in last few years, said the minister.

Earlier, the Congress Legislature party leader had sought to know details regarding the leave applications submitted by Gopal Das during his tenure at Odisha police. The Congress MLA also sought to know details regarding Gopal Das’ performance as a police officer during the last 10 years and the awards provide to him during his service period.

The BJP MLA too sought to know details regarding the mental illness of accused Gopal Das from the minister.

Notably, Gopal Das had opened fire on then Health Minister Naba Das at a programme at Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda on January 29. Naba Das succumbed to his injuries while treated at a hospital in the capital city on the same day.