BHUBANESHWAR: Nearly two years after the murder of former Odisha health minister Naba Das, the BJP and the BJD on Sunday were involved in a verbal spat over the murder probe with a member of the ruling party, the BJP, who alleged that a person who wanted to succeed Naveen Patnaik as Odisha CM played a key role in Naba’s murder, an allegation denied by the opposition.
Without naming the person, BJP MP from Bargarh Pradeep Purohit said, “He is the main conspirator. The state criminal branch investigation protected the conspirator. Gopal Das (an Odisha police officer accused in the case) is just a pawn.”
Senior BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra also saw the BJD’s role in Naba’s murder along with the involvement of an IAS and IPS officer. “An IAS officer and an IPS officer, along with two BJD politicians, planned Naba’s murder. The IPS officer visited Jharsuguda a few days before Naba’s murder. Coal deals and political dealings led to assassination. A CBI investigation can unravel the mystery,” Mishra said.
On January 29, 2023, Naba, then Health Minister in the BJD government, was shot dead by Assistant Sub-Inspector Gopal Das in Jharsuguda district of Odisha.
Purohit also questioned the delayed demand for a CBI probe by Naba’s family, suggesting that they remained silent to safeguard their political and business interests.
BJD dismissed the allegations and defended the crime branch’s investigation. “The investigation into the murder of the cabinet minister was on the right track. The main and only accused, Gopal Das, was arrested on the same day. The charge sheet has already been filed and the trial has begun. If the BJP government wants, it can transfer the case to the CBI,” said senior BJP neta Bhupinder Singh.