The Bolangir police are still to file the charge sheet against prime accused in the Mamita Meher murder case Gobinda Sahu even though four months have passed since the shocking murder of the lady teacher at Sunshine English Medium School at Mahaling in Kalahandi district which rocked the State.
The police have just six days left to file the charge sheet against the accused in the sensational case. In the event the police fail to file the charge sheet even after six days, it will make it easy for prime accused Sahu to avail bail, lawyers opined.
It is because with the expiry of six days’ time, the 120 days time limit to file charge sheet in the murder case against the accused will also expire, thereby paving the way for the accused to apply for bail (default bail) and walk out of the jail.
Regarding the rule with respect to filing charge sheets in serious offences, senior advocate Pramod Mishra said, “The police have to file a charge sheet against an accused within 120 days from the date of remand. If they fail to do so, the accused gains the right for bail.”
“Here in case of Mamita Meher murder case, the police have to file at least the preliminary charge sheet and then they can keep the case open to submit further findings during the course of investigation,” added Mishra.
The police had arrested Sahu on the day Mamita’s body remains were found from a pit at an under-construction stadium near Mahaling school. As per rule, the police have only six days left to file the charge sheet, Mishra said.
On the other hand, the family members of the slain teacher have been oscillating between hope and despair. “A common man gets justice from the police and court. In our case, we are not satisfied with the police’s investigation. The important aspect is the police are yet to find her (Mamita’s) mobile phone and pen drive. They contain evidence to prove the involvement of some other influential persons in the crime who are still at large. In such a situation, we have no option but to wait and watch,” rued Koushik Meher, Mamita’s paternal uncle (father’s elder brother).
Notably, the lady teacher, a resident of Jharni village under Turekela block of Bolangir district, went missing on October 8, 2021. Her decomposed body was exhumed from an under construction stadium at Mahaling in Kalahandi district on October 19.