SC refuses permission for CBI inquiry into murder of BJP workers in West Bengal

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to grant permission for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged murder of two BJP workers--Trilochan Mahto and Shaktipad Sarkar in West Bengal last year.

The Apex Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Ranjan Gogoi turned down the plea, relying upon the submissions made by West Bengal government that the accused persons had been arrested and the charge-sheet had already been filed.

The top court asked West Bengal government to submit the medical report of the third deceased, Dulal Kumar, within two weeks and fixed the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

It is to be noted that West Bengal government in its report submitted to the apex court that Dulal Kumar allegedly committed suicide.

Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for the deceased, had knocked at the doors of the Supreme Court seeking a detailed CBI investigation into the case, claiming that West Bengal police and state machinery could not probe the case in an impartial and unbiased manner.

Bhatia, in his petition, claimed that the three state BJP workers--Dulal Kumar, Shaktipad Sarkar, and Trilochan Mahto--were allegedly murdered in West Bengal and the CBI should investigate the case.

On July 28, Shaktipada Sardar, a BJP worker, was returning home during the night when he was allegedly attacked by miscreants in Diamond Harbour's Mandir Bazar area. He was left bleeding on the road and was pronounced dead when brought to the hospital.

The BJP worker, Dulal Kumar was found hanging from a pole in Balarampur of Purulia district on June 2. On May 30, the body of 20-year-old BJP activist Trilochan Mahato was found hanging from a tree in the same district.