In a major development in Odisha Health Minister Naba Das murder case, the Jharsuguda Additional District and Sessions Court on Thursday framed charges against dismissed ASI and accused, Gopal Das, who is lodged in Choudwar jail.
As a discharge petition filed on behalf Gopal was scheduled for hearing today, he was brought from Choudwar jail to the Jharsuguda Additional District and Sessions Court amid tight security. However, his discharge petition was rejected by the court.
The court also framed charges against the accused and fixed October 5 as the next date of hearing.
Informing about the development over the phone, Gopal Das’ lawyer Naresh Nayak said, “The Crime Branch is trying to prove Gopal Das as an accused. The court has rejected our discharge petition, framed charges against Gopal and posted the matter to October 5 for the next hearing.”
On May 26, the Odisha Crime Branch submitted a 543-page charge sheet in the court of JMFC, Jharsuguda against dismissed ASI Gopal Das.
On the fateful day of January 29, ASI Gopal Das was deployed at Gandhi Chowk for traffic management as Health Minister Naba Das was scheduled to attend a programme nearby. At the scheduled time, Naba Das reached the spot in his vehicle. As he was alighting from his car, his supporters rushed to welcome him. Gopal Das too came close to him. Before anyone could understand anything, he opened fire at the Minister.
Das, who was severely injured in the attack, was immediately rushed to Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital and then he was airlifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar where he succumbed to his injuries.