Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday told the Assembly that the state Crime Branch is seeking the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States in the investigation into the Health Minister Naba Kisore Das murder case, as they have the best expertise in behavioural analysis in such cases.
In his statement in the Assembly on the issue, the Chief Minister said, “We have requested the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to facilitate an evaluation of the behaviour of the accused by the Behavioral Support Unit of the FBI of the United States.”
“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 responding to the Opposition parties’ demand for a government statement on Naba Das murder and the progress of the investigation into the case.
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.
“India has been a democracy for more than 75 years. Odisha has a tradition of a very mature and high level of political discourse. The level of political discourse, in this case, is disturbing. Politics on a sensitive crime is not a good sign for our democracy,” the Chief Minister said, adding, “I am deeply shocked that the accused of this heinous crime is a policeman. The accused officer has been immediately dismissed from service and all efforts will be made to bring him to justice.”
In his statement, the Chief Minister also gave a detailed account of the events and the steps taken by the government after the death of Naba Das.
The House was adjourned for the day soon after the Chief Minister read his statement in the Assembly.
