Minister murder case: BJP raises questions on Retd HC judge's appointment to monitor probe
Bhubaneswar (PTI): As Orissa High Court retired judge Justice JP Das reached Jharsuguda to monitor the Crime Branch investigation into the murder of former Health minister Naba Kishore Das, opposition BJP alleged that there is no legal sanction behind his appointment.
The state government had written a letter to the Registrar of the High court to name either a sitting judge or a retired judge to monitor the investigation as the opposition parties demanded a CBI or court monitored SIT probe into the sensational murder case. The high court had suggested the name of J P Das to supervise the probe.
However, the BJP which has been demanding a CBI probe into the minister's murder, alleged that there is no such provision under the CrPC for external intervention into the investigation process, by a retired high court judge.
"I am afraid if CrPC grants power to a retired judge to monitor a criminal investigation? It is a clear breach of the statute due to executive remissness. Things are not being done in the manner it is required to be done under the law," senior BJP leader and High Court lawyer Pitambar Acharya told reporters here on Tuesday.
On the BJP leader's allegations, ruling BJD MLA and government chief whip, Prashant Muduli said, "The opposition has a habit of making such allegations. The society and democracy will not survive if they don't have faith on the judiciary."
Acharya, who unsuccessfully contested against Naveen Patnaik in Hinjili assembly segment in 2019, also asked the state government to show the copy of judicial order on the appointment of a retired judge to supervise the ongoing investigation by the crime branch.
The senior BJP leader also alleged that the government engaged a retired high court judge to monitor the case as it has no trust on its own agency. "Therefore, the state government approached the High Court to nominate a sitting or retired judge to monitor the investigation," Acharya said.
He raised questions like: "Where is the judicial order on appointment of the retired judge? On the basis of which judicial proceeding/writ petition/application, You are claiming that one retired judge is monitoring the investigation in the case? Show me the High Court order and you should make the appointment order public. This is neither a judicial proceeding nor a consultation under a judicial Commission of Inquiry Act."
Acharya also accused the BJD government of misleading the people in the name of High Court.
Meanwhile, Justice Das along with Odisha DGP SK Bansal and Director intelligence SK Panda on Tuesday visited Jharsuguda and set to to visit the murder site at Gandhi Chowk in Brajrajnagar to supervise the case.
In a related development, the Crime Branch on Tuesday, took the lone accused ex-ASI Gopal Das to the murder site for crime scene recreation. On January 29 Gopal Das had fired two rounds from his service revolver at the minister and one bullet pierced his chest.
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Modi's allegation of insult to Uttar Pradesh, a "cheap tactic" says DMK chief Stalin
Chennai (PTI): DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of picking up a "cheap strategy" of stoking confrontation between states as his "propaganda of communal hatred" did not help.
Stalin slammed what he called Modi's "imaginary tales and bags of lies" by alleging that leaders of southern states including Tamil Nadu (INDIA bloc constituents) were speaking in a derogatory manner, against the people of Uttar Pradesh.
Days ago, PM Modi had alleged in a poll rally that Samajwadi Party and the Congress's southern allies insulted Uttar Pradesh and Sanatana Dharma but the two parties remained quiet.
The DMK president alleged that it was the BJP that supported and encouraged fake news items, such as the false claims made by "YouTubers like Manish Kashyap" of assault on guest workers in Tamil Nadu. Such fake claims were hate propaganda aimed at creating divisions in society.
Kashyap was arrested last year by Tamil Nadu police for alleged circulation of fake videos on "attacks" in Tamil Nadu on migrant workers hailing from Bihar. Kashyap, who had been in jail in connection with that case, joined the BJP last month.
Stalin lashed out at Modi saying he did not speak on removing the 50 per cent cap on reservation for Backward classes and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes people, a move that will be very beneficial for the people of Uttar Pradesh. However, Modi was keen on propaganda of hatred alone, the DMK top leader alleged.
"The BJP's divisive dreams will never come true ! false narrative and hatred will be shattered, India will win," Stalin said in a statement.
The Chief Minister said Modi was frustrated as hate propaganda has become useless and he does not have any achievements to tell the people from his ten-year tenure.
Hence, PM Modi has gone to the extent of "besmirching" welfare schemes implemented in opposition-ruled states and he has demonstrated that "he is always against the poor people."
Stalin said the DMK government's fare-free town bus services scheme for women has benefited them in several ways, ensuring "travel freedom," and claimed that Modi has "started a rumour" that passenger traffic has witnessed a decline in Metrorail services.
The Dravidian party chief, citing statistics said the patronage for Chennai MetroRail (CMRL) has increased significantly and accused Modi of scuttling the CMRL phase-II expansion in the Tamil Nadu capital city by not "releasing funds" to the state as agreed by the Centre.
PM Modi has reportedly spoken in an interview on bus and the Metro rail services and whether or not he made a specific reference to Tamil Nadu is not known.
Stalin said the INDIA bloc was "racing towards victory" and accused Modi of making "propaganda of lies and hatred," and people were witnessing "Election Commission's silence" with shock and grief.
