Naba Das murder: Court rejects CB petition seeking repeat medical test of accused Gopal

Suranjan Mishra Published On : Feb 20, 2023 at 8:40 PM

Jharsuguda: Odisha Crime Branch today sought the permission of Jharsuguda JMFC Court to go for a repeat medical test of accused Gopal Krishna Das in former Health Minister Naba Kishore Das murder case, who was gunned down near Gandhi Chhak in Brajarajnagar town here on January 29.

An official source said that the probe team wanted to know Gopal’s present state of mind. However, the court dismissed the Crime Branch petition filed in this regard.

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Gopal had a prolonged history of mental illness. Due to the mental ailment of the accused, a special Medical Board was earlier formed consisting of four Psychiatry experts. The board examined him and carried out the analysis at Jharsuguda. The Board later opined that there is a need to have a detailed examination of the accused to come to a definite conclusion about his mental health.

Further comprehensive psychological/psychometrical/mental evaluation in the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore of Karnataka was prayed for by the prosecution before the JMFC-1, (Cognisance Taking) in Jharsuguda on February 20, in accordance with the advice of the medical board comprising four expert doctors, who had previously examined and evaluated the psychological/mental condition of the accused Gopal, a Crime Branch press release stated.

“It is learnt that the JMFC-1 has rejected the prayer. We have applied for a certified copy of the court order and after availing the certified copy, the same will be examined by the legal cell of the Crime Branch and if so required CID-CB will move the higher forum,” a senior official informed.

It is pertinent to mention here that Forensic Psychological Assessment (FPA) and Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) tests of the accused Das (a former ASI of Odisha Police) were previously conducted by a team of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), New Delhi at Jharsuguda on February 8.

Notably, the Crime Branch probe in connection with the CID-CB PS case (No-02, dated-29.01.2023) arising out of Brajarajnagar PS case (No-34, dated-29.01.2023 U/S 307 IPC/27(1) of Arms Act turned to Section 302/307 IPC/27(1) of the Arms Act is underway led by Additional DG (ADG) Arun Bothra.