Naba Das murder: Odisha court rejects discharge petition of accused Gopal Das

Bhubaneswar: Jharsuguda Additional District Judge (ADJ) today rejected the discharge petition of Gopal Das, the lone accused in the murder of then Odisha Health Minister Naba Das at Brajarajnagar on January 29.

Gopal, a former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of police, had earlier filed the discharge petition pleading his innocence in the case.

Gopal, who has been lodged in Choudwar jail in Cuttack district, was taken to Jharsuguda amid tight security for the court proceedings.

The ADJ court rejected the discharge petition after examining the documents submitted by the both sides, sources said.

The court also framed charges against accused Gopal Das in connection with the murder case. “Charges have been framed against accused Gopal Das under Sections 302 and 307 of the IPC and Section 27 (1) of the Arms Act. The court will conduct hearing on the case from October 5,” said Public Prosecutor Gangadhar Gadnayak.

The Crime Branch of Odisha Police had filed the preliminary chargesheet against Gopal on May 26.

Notably, Gopal had opened fire on Minister Naba Das from his service revolver during an event at Brajarajnagar on January 29 this year.

Naba succumbed to his injuries while being treated at a private hospital in the capital city here on the same day.

The state government had handed over the case to the Crime Branch and dismissed accused Gopal Das from police service.