Orissa HC quashes PIL seeking CBI probe in Minister Naba Das murder

Cuttack: Days after the Bharatiya Vikash Parishad moved the Orissa High Court (HC) and filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking CBI investigation into the murder of minister Naba Das, the court dismissed the petition in a hearing today stating that there is no need for the interference of the HC as Crime Branch probe is underway. “The hearing of the PIL seeking CBI probe was held today. The honorable court however stated that  it is just 11 days since the Crime Branch took over the case and and as investigation is going on, there is no need for the court intervention noww. The case is hereby dismissed,” informed lawyer of BVP Gopal Prasad Jena.

While currently the case is being investigated by the Odisha Crime Branch and monitored by retired judge of the Orissa HC Justice JP Das, the petitioner had stated in the PIL that the ongoing 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.

Following the appointment of Justice Das for monitoring investigation, the BJP had hit out at the BJD government led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, calling the move “illegal”.

Addressing mediapersons a day later, BJP spokesperson and senior advocate of Orissa High Court Pitambar Acharya had asked the government to show the copy of judicial order on the appointment of a retired judge to supervise the ongoing investigation by the state crime branch. Lambasting the State government,  Acharya said that the government ordered the crime branch probe for investigation into Naba Das murder case. But, it did not trust its own agency and approached the High Court to nominate a sitting or retired judge to monitor the investigation.

He warned the government not to include the constitutional body in its misdeed. “You should uphold the dignity of the institution,” he said. “I am questioning, why should you use the name of High Court? Justice JP Das has not been judicially appointed to supervise the statutorily conducted police investigation. In fact, the government is trying to save and release the culprit in the case. Which court will accept the investigation report monitored by the retired judge? The entire investigation process would be vitiated if any outside power make statement or intervene in the probe,” he said.

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.