Crime branch to launch ‘further probe’ into Naba murder case: Min

Bhubaneswar/Jharsuguda: The crime branch will launch "further investigation" into the murder of former minister Naba Kisore Das to uncover potential conspirators and accomplices involved in his Jan 2023 assassination, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Sacked ASI Gopal Das had shot Das in broad daylight, and the crime branch filed a chargesheet identifying him as the sole perpetrator who committed the crime due to personal animosity.
Citing concerns raised by the deceased's family about the inadequacies in the previous investigation, Harichandan said, "The earlier investigation had reached a dead end under the previous govt."
"Several crucial aspects of the case remained unexplored. The crime branch will now conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to uncover who was behind the murder and identify all involved parties," he told the media outside the assembly.
The minister's statement came on a day when two crime branch officers visited Naba's family to record their statements. The minister emphasised that all leads and doubts raised by the family would be thoroughly investigated.
Official sources said chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has given time to Naba's wife for a meeting at his office in Lok Seva Bhawan on Wednesday evening.
Harichandan said on behalf of the govt, he assures the people that the investigation would be impartial and comprehensive. "Unlike in the past, there will be no compromise in the investigative process. People of Odisha deserve to know the truth behind this heinous crime," he stated.
On the demand by family members for a CBI probe, the law minister expressed confidence in the crime branch's capabilities under the new govt, asserting that it could conduct an investigation on par with the central agency. "The current govt has maintained the investigative integrity of the crime branch, and we have full faith in their ability to handle the sensitive case," Harichandan added.
Responding to the govt stand, BJD MLA Goutam Buddha Das said nobody is against a fair probe, but it should not be politically motivated. "When the BJP was in opposition, they had demanded a CBI inquiry. The law minister is now saying the investigation will be conducted by the crime branch which shows the probe under BJD govt was in right direction," he said.
Additional SP Vijay Mallick and DSP Diptimayee Mallick of the crime branch recorded statements of Das's son Bishal and daughter Dipali at their residence in Jharsuguda town. "We have recorded their statements and will verify the information provided," ASP Mallick said.
Crime branch sources said a final chargesheet will be filed by including the new findings.
Dipali said the crime branch had initially requested their statements on March 1, with a deadline of March 3. "Due to prior commitments, we requested Tuesday's date for the recording, which they accommodated," she said, expressing confidence in the agency's investigation.
Bishal revealed the family's intention to still seek a CBI investigation into his father's murder. "We have prepared a letter requesting a CBI probe and are awaiting an appointment with the CM to discuss the matter," he said pointing out that his mother, Minati Das, had sought a date with CM Majhi.
Questioning the state govt's stance, Bishal said that while the law minister had asked for a written request for a CBI inquiry, such a formal request from family members should not be necessary if authorities were genuinely interested in pursuing that route. In Jan, Harichandan had said the govt may consider request for a CBI probe if the family submits a petition.