FBI help sought in Naba Das murder probe: CM

February 22, 2023 Government

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said the state government has requested the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate an evaluation of the behavior of the Naba Das murder accused Gopal Das by the Behavioral Support Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States.

Making a statement in the Assembly, Patnaik said, “The State Crime Branch is seeking the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America, as they have the best expertise in behavioral analysis in such cases.”

“We have requested the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to facilitate an evaluation of the behavior of the accused by the Behavioral Support Unit of the FBI of the United States of America. I want to reassure the house that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring a full, fair and open investigation in the case with the assistance of the best forensic experts in India and abroad,” Patnaik added.

“I want to reassure the House that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring a full, fair and open investigation in the case with the assistance of the best forensic experts in India and abroad,” he said.

The Chief Minister expressed his unhappiness over the politicizing of the case despite the best efforts of his government for a “fair and transparent” probe into the case and to bring the culprit to book.

“In the aftermath of this terrible incident, the manner in which this very sensitive case is being politicised has shocked me as well as the people of Odisha. It is disturbing to see the baseless and malicious allegations that are being made,” he said.

He said that an independent judiciary is one of the strongest pillars of our democracy. After the Odisha High Court has appointed a retired High Court Judge to monitor the investigation of the case, the whole police investigation will be subjected to judicial scrutiny.

“So, what is the need to do politics in the case and make baseless and malicious allegations? We should all respect and have faith in our independent judiciary,” Patnaik told the House.