Odisha court rejects CID plea to take health minister murder accused to NIMHANS

A special medical board consisting of four psychiatric experts examined Gopal Das during the CID remand period as he was said to have a prolonged history of mental illness

Published on: Mar 3, 2023, 21:06:38 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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An Odisha district court on Friday rejected a plea filed by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) seeking mental health examination of accused Gopal Das in the murder case of health minister Naba Das.

Odisha health minister Naba Das was allegedly shot dead by district police officer ion January (ANI Photo)

State health and family welfare minister and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naba Das, 61, was shot dead by allegedly by Gopal Das, 53, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police in Jharsuguda district on January 29.

Additional district and sessions judge at Jharsuguda district court refused to allow the CID to take Gopal Das to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru for evaluation of his mental condition on technical grounds as allowing the accused to travel would amount to CID remand.

Also Read: Who was Odisha minister Naba Das who died after being shot by a cop? 10 points

The district court made it clear that the investigative agency may move to Orissa high court for permission. Last month, the court of the first class judicial magistrate of Jharsuguda rejected the plea of CID on similar grounds.

The investigative agency had appealed before the court for further comprehensive psychological, psychometrical/ mental evaluation of the accused at NIMHANS on the recommendation of the medical board that examined Gopal Das.

A special medical board consisting of four psychiatric experts examined Gopal Das during the CID remand period as he was said to have a prolonged history of mental illness.

Based on the analysis, the medical board said, “there was a need to have a detailed examination of the accused to come to a definite conclusion about his mental health.”

After the opposition parties continued to allege deep-rooted conspiracy behind the murder of the health minister, chief minister Naveen Patnaik last month announced in the state assembly that the state government has sought the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America for its expertise in behavioural analysis of the accused.

Also Read: Naba Das murder case: SIT questions elder brother of accused ASI

“We have requested the ministry of home affairs to facilitate an evaluation of the behaviour of the accused by the behavioural support unit of the FBI of the USA. I want to reassure that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring a full, fair and open investigation in the case with the assistance of the best forensic experts in India and abroad,” Patnaik said.

The behavioural analytical unit of the FBI is a highly selective, elite unit within the FBI that offers research and analysis of criminal behaviour to assist law enforcement organizations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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