HC Quashes PIL Seeking CBI Probe into Naba Das Assassination Case

Cuttack: Orissa High Court on Thursday quashed a petition seeking a CBI probe into Odisha Health Minister Naba Das’ murder case.  This Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed for a CBI investigation of the Naba Das death case at Orissa High Court. Taking up the petition for hearing, the court today said it will be ‘too early’ to hand over the case to the central probing agency.

On Wednesday, Orissa High Court dismissed another PIL, seeking direction to the state government to take immediate steps for the effective handling of depression and stress cases among police personnel.

The Bharatiya Vikash Parishad moved the High Court on February 6 seeking an investigation of the Naba das assassination case by the CBI. The petitioner in the PIL alleged that the ongoing Crime Branch probe was not trustable. Odisha Crime Branch is currently investigating the case. , Justice JP Das, a retired judge of the Orissa High Court is monitoring the investigation.

Notably, Gopal Das, the police ASI of Gandhi Chowk Police Outpost in Brajarajnagar shot at Health & Family Welfare Minister Naba Das while he was alighting from his vehicle to attend a public meeting at Brajarajnagar on January 29 in Jharsuguda district. The BJD leader fell down and was airlifted to Bhubaneswar in critical condition. He was admitted to the Apollo Hospital where he was declared dead.

Following the incident, the state government ordered a Crime Branch probe into the murder case. The Crime Branch so far has formed three teams for the investigation. The Jharsuguda SP Rahul Jain and Brajarajnagar SDPO Gupteswar Bhoi have been transferred to State Police Headquarters.