Justice JP Das, a retired Orissa High Court Judge will monitor the Crime Branch’s (CB) investigation into the murder of Health Minister Naba Kisore Das.
Justice Das’ name was cleared by the High Court on Wednesday following a request by the State Home Department for the purpose. The State Government had written a letter to the court praying for engagement of a sitting or retired judge to monitor the investigation. Justice Das will monitor the CB’s probe on a day-today basis.
In another development, the Government placed under suspension Naba Das’ Personal Security Officer (PSO) Mitrabhanu Deo for dereliction of duty. Besides, Brajarajnagar police station Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Pradyumna Kumar Swain and Gandhi Chhak police outpost in-Charge Sub-Inspector (SI) Sashibhusan Podha were transferred.
While Swain was shunted to the Sambalpur district police headquarters, Podha was transferred to the Subarnapur district police headquarters.
Notably, on Tuesday, Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Jain had been transferred to the State police headquarters in Cuttack and Brajarajnagar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Gupteswar Bhoi was also attached to the State police headquarters.
On Tuesday, the Brajarajnagar JMFC Court had allowed the Crime Branch to take accused former ASI of Police Gopal Das on a four-day remand for further questioning. The Minister was shot in chest allegedly by Gopal at Gandhi Chhak in Brajrajnagar on January 29.