Naba Das murder case: Odisha court rejects plea for Gopal Das’ mental health examination

Jharsuguda: Jharsuguda district court today rejected a plea filed by Odisha Crime Branch seeking mental health examination of accused Gopal Das in Health Minister Naba Das murder case.

The district court denied to allow the Crime Branch to take Gopal Das to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru for evaluation of mental condition of dismissed ASI Gopal Das on technical ground.

The court made it clear that the investigative agency may move to Orissa High Court for permission.

Gopal Krushna Das, the sole accused in Naba Das murder case, is currently lodged at Choudwar Circle Jail in Cuttack.

The preliminary investigation stated that Gopal Das, who was assigned for clearing traffic at Gandhi Chowk in Brajarajnagar area during a programme to be attended by Naba Das on January 29, fired at the minister with his service gun while the latter was stepping out of his car for the meeting.

The minister was declared dead at Apollo Hospital in Bhubaneswar later in the evening.

Police arrested Gopal Das and the case was handed over to Crime Branch to investigate the motive behind the murder.