Other States - Orissa

New twist to murder case

CUTTACK: As directed, the State crime branch IG B.K. Sharma on Thursday personally appeared before the High Court and informed it that the crime branch had not taken over the investigation into the death of one Bhagirathi Das of Jajpur district as alleged by the wife of the victim.

The IG’s revelations gave a new twist to the murder case in which a ruling party MLA has allegedly taken keen interest.

Mr. Sharma told the court in an affidavit that the crime branch had refused to take up the case because the general police was doing a good job probing into the case. “Although, there was a demand for crime branch probe, I had refused to take up the case since the general police in the case was competent and doing a good job,” Mr. Sharma informed the court.

The HC last week had asked the official to explain the court in person as to why and at whose behest the crime branch took over the investigation into the murder case that was progressing well under the supervision of general police. The court order came in response to a petition made by the victim’s wife Kabita Das alleging that the probe into the case had hampered ever since the crime branch took up the case. The petitioner had alleged that the crime branch had taken up the case at the behest of a local MLA. The case was adjourned to Tuesday.

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