E-Paper
Gogoi fields NRI murder accused
Unlike the Jessica Lall murder case, the Congress has refused to distance itself from Assam social welfare minister Gautam Roy and his son, both facing CBI investigation for the abduction and murder of NRI businessman Pratul Deb.
Unlike the Jessica Lall murder case, the Congress has refused to distance itself from Assam social welfare minister Gautam Roy and his son, both facing CBI investigation for the abduction and murder of NRI businessman Pratul Deb.
Deb, who had contested the Katlicherra assembly poll on a BJP ticket against brother-in-law Roy in 2001, went missing in March 2004. His skeletal remains were recovered from a jungle on the Assam-Mizoram border in September last year. His London-based daughter, Sipra, had accused Roy and his son Rahul of murdering her father.
"We have not violated the party stand in giving tickets to Roy and his son because they are not criminals," said Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday, defending the Congress’ decision to nominate the father-son duo. "There are no cases pending against them nor has the CBI charge-sheeted them."
Roy has been re-nominated for the Katlicherra seat while Rahul contests from neighbouring Algapur constituency. The CM argued that denying tickets would have been injustice to two winnable candidates.
