Crime Branch never tried to portray accused Gopal Das mentally unstable: Odisha MoS Home on Naba Das murder

Replying to the allegations of the Opposition on the Naba Das murder investigation, Odisha Minister of State (MoS) Home, Tusharkanti Behera said the Crime Branch never tried to portray accused Gopal Das as mentally unstable.

Behera’s statement came in response to an adjournment motion in the Odisha Assembly on Thursday.

“To answer the Opposition’s question on why Naba Das was brought to Apollo hospital in Bhubaneswar after he was shot in Jharsuguda, I want to clarify that he was brought for advanced treatment,” he said.

“All the aspects of the case are being probed by the Crime Branch. The eyewitnesses, family members of Naba Das, neighbours and colleagues were questioned too. But the Opposition does not know it,” he added.

Defending the Crime Branch enquiry, Behera further said, “Gopal Das’ mental condition was revealed during the investigation by the Crime Branch. So, they collected all the documents pertaining to his mental condition and verified them. Gopal Das himself has confessed to the murder during the recording of his statement in front of a magistrate.”

However, the Opposition did not seem to be satisfied with the Minister’s statement and staged a walkout from the House.