Naba Das Murder Case: Court Rejects Discharge Plea of Accused Gopal Das

Jharsuguda: The Additional District Judge (ADJ) in Jharsuguda has dismissed the discharge petition of suspended ASI Gopal Das, the sole accused in the murder case of former Health Minister Naba Das.

Gopal Das had sought exoneration from the charges and claimed his innocence in the case. He was transported from Choudwar jail in Cuttack district under tight security to appear before the court in Jharsuguda.

The ADJ, after a thorough review of the petition and relevant documents, has declined the discharge plea. The court has scheduled the commencement of the murder case proceedings for October 5.

The Crime Branch had filed the preliminary chargesheet in the case on May 26. Gopal Das is accused of firing his service revolver at then-Minister Naba Das while the latter was en route to a public meeting in Brajrajnagar, Jharsuguda district, on January 29. Das succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

The case is being closely watched by the people of Odisha, and the ADJ’s decision to reject the discharge petition is likely to be welcomed by the victim’s family and supporters.