With whom Gopal Das had spoken with before shooting Minister Naba Das? CB examines old call records

The Odisha Crime Branch has intensified its investigation into the sensational murder of the then Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das by former police officer Gopal Das. In a significant move, the Crime Branch officials have retrieved and started examining the old call records of the accused to identify all individuals he was in contact with prior to the murder.

What Crime Branch Officials Say?

According to Crime Branch Additional Superintendent of Police B.K. Mallick, several people spoke to Gopal Das over the phone in the days and hours leading up to the murder. These contacts are now under the radar of the investigation team. 

Mallik stated that all those who communicated with Gopal before the incident would be summoned for interrogation, as investigators attempt to trace the chain of events and uncover possible motives or external influences.

Crime Branch Team In Berhampur

To facilitate the investigation, a dedicated team from the Crime Branch has been stationed in Berhampur since April 23. 
The team has already questioned Gopal’s immediate family members, including his son and brother, to gather background information and behavioural patterns. 

On the previous day, the cook employed at a hotel in Jharsuguda, owned by Gopal’s brother, was also interrogated, as investigators believe he may have critical insights into Gopal’s recent activities.

“We had collected call details of the accused Gopal Das to verify with whom he had spoken with. We had earlier examined the elder brother of the accused, and his statements have been recorded. We have also examined the cook of the hotel,” said Mallick

The senior Crime Branch official further informed that some more persons, including nephew and others, will be examined.

“Our focus is to ascertain with whom Gopal Das had spoken with over phone prior to the incident,” Mallick added.

Currently, the investigation team is carrying out some probe at Baidyanathpur Police Station, which has become the hub of the inquiry. 

Preliminary findings from the call records suggest that Gopal had telephonic conversations with several individuals in and around Berhampur before the crime. The Crime Branch is preparing to summon these individuals for questioning to ascertain the nature of these communications.

Do Call Records Hold The Key?

Sources within the Crime Branch believe that these call records could hold key evidence that might reveal whether Gopal acted alone or was influenced, incited, or assisted by others. The investigative team is leaving no stone unturned to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine whether the murder was part of a larger conspiracy.

The murder of the then Odisha Minister Naba Das, which shocked the entire state and sparked nationwide attention, remains one of the most high-profile cases in recent Odisha history. 

With the recovery of crucial digital evidence, the Crime Branch is hopeful that the truth behind the calculated attack will soon be fully unravelled.