Naba Das murder: PIL for CBI probe filed in Orissa High Court

Cuttack: Amid political blame game over the murder of minister Naba Das, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was today filed in the Orissa High Court for a CBI investigation.

The Bharatiya Vikash Parishad moved the High Court seeking an investigation of the case by the central agency.

The petitioner mentioned in the petition that the ongoing Crime Branch probe is not trustable.

Odisha Chief Secretary, Odisha Home Department Secretary, Odisha DGP, CBI and the Crime Branch have been made parties in the case.

While the Odisha Crime Branch is currently investigating the case, Justice JP Das, retired judge of the Orissa High Court, will monitor the probe.

Notably, the minister was allegedly shot in chest by Gopal Das, a former ASI of police, at Gandhi Chhak in Brajrajnagar area of Jharsuguda district on January 29. The firing took place when the minister alighted from a car to attend an inauguration programme and his supporters were garlanding him.

He was rescued in a critical condition and rushed to the Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. As his condition deteriorated, the minister was then airlifted to Bhubaneswar, where he was admitted to Apollo Hospital.

However, he succumbed to bullet injuries while undergoing treatment at the private hospital.