A local Court in Jharsuguda on Monday rejected the prayer for further mental health examination of the former Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of police- Gopal Krishna Das, who had gunned down former Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das in Brajarajnagar of Jharsuguda district on 29 January.
Even as the Opposition parties continue to train guns on the BJD on the high-profile murder case, the court’s refusal for further mental health has come in as a body blow to the beleaguered Crime Branch wing of State police, which is still groping in dark more than three weeks after the assassination to ascertain the motive of the former minister’s murder.
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Though the Crime Branch, in an official statement issued on Monday, has come out with revelation that the killer cop had a prolonged history of mental illness, it is not backed up by conclusive medical evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the assailant was undergoing bouts of psychiatric disorder.
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“Due to the mental ailment of the accused, a Special Medical Board comprising four psychiatric experts was constituted. The board examined him and carried out the analysis at Jharsuguda. The Board later opined that there is a need to have detailed examination of the accused to come to a definite conclusion about his mental health”, the Crime Branch said in a statement on Monday.
Further comprehensive psychological/psychometrical/ mental evaluation in National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore, Karnataka was prayed for by the prosecution before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC)-1, Jharsuguda on 20 February, in accordance with the advice of the medical board of four expert doctors who had previously examined and evaluated the psychological/mental condition of the accused.
JMFC has rejected the prayer. We have applied for the certified copy of the order, after availing the certified copy, the same will be examined by the legal cell Crime Branch and if so required Criminal Investigation Department-CB will move the higher forum, the statement added.
The former minister Das, who was shot at point blank range on 29 January and sustained bullet wounds on his chest, was airlifted to Bhubaneswar from Jharsuguda. Later he succumbed to injuries after a seven-hour-long battle for survival. However, the Opposition continues to level allegations, Das died on the spot and was received dead at Jharsuguda district headquarters hospital.
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