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Calcutta HC informed that autopsy report of West Bengal BJP worker rules out murder
Union home minister Amit Shah, who was in Bengal when the death was reported, met Arjun Chaurasia’s family and blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the “political murder”
The autopsy report of a 27-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker, who was found dead in Kolkata on May 6, revealed that his death was by hanging and that he was not murdered, the Calcutta high court was informed on Tuesday.
Representing the deceased’s family, BJP leader and advocate Priyanka Tibrewal said the report, which was submitted in a sealed envelope in the court, also said the ligature mark on the deceased’s neck was ante-mortem in nature.
“The post mortem report says the cause of death was hanging and the ligature mark found around the neck of the deceased was anti-mortem in nature,” Tibrewal said.
“While this indicates suicide, we want to wait for the viscera report to see if the deceased was drugged. He could have been hanged by someone else while he was unconscious,” she added.
BJP youth wing leader Arjun Chowrasia was found dead in an abandoned building near his home in north Kolkata on May 6, hours before Union home minister Amit Shah had arrived in the city on the second day of his two-day visit to the state. Alleging that his party worker was murdered, Shah had demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case.
The deceased’s family had also cried foul, and had moved the high court seeking that the autopsy be conducted at the Army’s Eastern Command Hospital in the city. Following the court’s directions, the autopsy was conducted on May 7.
Taking note of the autopsy report suggesting suicide, Tibrewal claimed Chaurasia would have needed a chair or something similar to tie the rope to the ceiling. “Nothing was found at the spot,” she said.
Chaurasia’s brother, Anand, maintained his sibling had no reason to take his life. “We are fully cooperating with the Kolkata Police. I want to know why Arjun died by suicide. He had no reason to do so,” he said.
Tibrewal said Chaurasia’s family will have to file an application in the court to get a copy of the autopsy report.
Kolkata Police, which on Sunday formed a special investigation team to probe the case, has also filed an application in this regard, officials said.
The Trinamool Congress slammed the BJP and Union minister for “lying about the law & order in the state”.
“HOME MINISTER @AmitShah IS A LIAR! Just like we said, he came to #Bengal and BLATANTLY LIED. Lied about law & order in the state, lied about safety and security issues, lied about @BJP4India’s concern for the people of this country. It’s a shame that BJP had to stoop THIS LOW,” the party tweeted.
State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya demanded an apology from Shah and other BJP leaders who alleged that Chaurasia was murdered by workers of the ruling party.
