Naba Das murder pre planned; accused committed crime in his senses: Odisha Crime Branch

Bhubaneswar: The sensational murder of former Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Das was pre planned and the accused had committed the crime in his senses, revealed Crime Branch during the investigation.

After submitting a preliminary chargesheet at the SDJM Court in Jharsuguda against dismissed ASI accused Gopal Krushna Das under sections 307/302 IPC r/w sec 27(1) Arms Act, the investigative agency of Odisha Police claimed that the mental condition of accused was normal and there was no abnormality.

Refuting the claim made by the accused’s family that he was suffering from bipolar disorder long ago and was under medication for mental illness, the Crime Branch said that a special medical board was constituted by the DMET who did not find active psychopathology in Gopal Das. It was also ascertained that he was quite normal.

He was cooperative in the investigation and replying to all the questions asked in cogent manner. His mental condition was found stable and normal, the Crime Branch stated in a release today.

Revealing the motive behind the murder, the Crime Branch said that the accused killed the minister out of personal grudge.

“After evaluation of all the evidence, documentary, medico legal, cyber forensic and ballistic opinion, it became clear that the accused Gopal Krushna Das had developed personal grudge and anguish against deceased minister. He felt threatened from Naba Das and his supporters and feared for his life. Gradually, he made up his mind to commit his murder. For this, he meticulously planned and then executed the crime,” the press release read.

The Crime Branch is investigating into the case since January 29, the day the Minister was killed in his Assembly Constituency Jharsuguda. ASI Gopal Das, who was in charge of the traffic regulation for a programme to be attended by Naba Das, fired at him with his service gun from a close distance amid the crowd. He was declared dead at Apollo Hospital in Bhubaneswar later in the evening.

The case was lodged at Brajarajnagar Police Station under section 307 IPC and 27 Arms Act. As the matter involved attack on the life of a serving minister, the case was handed over to Crime Branch on the very day of occurrence.

During the course of investigation, the Crime Branch formed 10 investigating teams deputed them to Jharsuguda, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and other places. The investigative agency examined as many as 89 witnesses and seized a large number of exhibits including firearm, live cartridges, empty case of cartridges and hand wash. The investigating officers used latest gadgets including Faro Camera and scientific tools such as LVA test, Polygraph test and Narco test to establish the culpability of the accused.