Suspense continues over Naba Das murder motive; case under probe, says CB in chargesheet

A little less than six months after the high-profile murder of minister Naba Kishore Das in broad daylight, OTV has accessed the 500-page charge sheet filed by the Crime Branch against the accused Gopal Das. 

The Crime Branch has miserably failed to crack the murder mystery as the chargesheet does not reveal any specific reason for the murder, but claims it to be out of some ‘personal grudge’.

It further claims that the case is still under investigation. However, the chargesheet hardly mentions the exact motive behind Gopal Das killing the former state health minister. 

“It is therefore submitted that the case is kept open for further investigation and follow-up action as per provision 73(8) CrPC,” reads the chargesheet accessed by OTV.

 “From the facts and circumstances and based on the evidence, the entire investigation clearly establishes the culpability of the accused u/s 302/307 IPC. The accused Gopal Krishna Das had developed a personal grudge and anguish against deceased minister Naba Kishore Das because of his own fear and perceived threat of his life from the minister and his supporters,” the chargesheet read.

“He made a plan and awaited for an opportunity which came in his way on 29.01.2023 from the fact that he came very close to the minister, aimed and fired towards the heart of the deceased so that there was no possibility of his survival at all,” it further added.

This apart, the Crime Branch has also attached the statements of Naba Das’ daughter Dipali Das, son Bishal Das, daughter-in-law, and his wife along with FIR copy and a report of the State Forensic Department.

Throwing light on the incident, lawyer Parthasarathi Nayak said, “Everyone knows Gopal Das killed minister Naba Das. The role of the Crime Branch was to find out the motive behind the murder. However, it seems like the CB has miserably failed to do its job. So, based on the evidence and materials produced before court, the court cannot fully convict Gopal Das.”

Worth mentioning, Minister Naba Das was on his way to attend an event when Gopal Das opened fire at him from close range with his service revolver. Although he was immediately rushed to Jharsuguda hospital and later shifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar, he succumbed to the bullet injuries.

Earlier, several conspiracies were hatched to show the accused Gopal Das as mentally unstable. However, CBI later denied that Gopal is suffering from Bipolar Disorder or any abnormality.

Several political leaders have also alleged that there is a larger conspiracy behind the murder with the involvement of some bigwigs.

Meanwhile, Naba Das’ daughter Dipali Das has been elected the MLA of Jharsuguda after winning the bypoll.