Kolkata, 18 December (H.S.) : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the probe into the murder of a Trinamool Congress worker in Hooghly district, a case dating back to 2010.

The court observed that despite the passage of nearly 15 years, the state’s Criminal Investigation Department had failed to make any significant breakthrough in the case. Citing the prolonged delay and lack of progress, the bench ordered that the investigation be handed over to the central agency.

As per the court’s direction, all documents and records related to the investigation will be transferred to the CBI, which will conduct a fresh probe into the matter.

The case relates to an incident in 2010 when firing broke out during guardian representative elections at Prosadpur High School in the Jangipara area of Hooghly district. Trinamool Congress worker Robin Ghosh was shot dead in the violence.

The then officer-in-charge of Jangipara police station, Tapasbrati Chakraborty, was accused in the case. It was alleged that he, along with workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), opened fire using a government-issued firearm, leading to Ghosh’s death.

Following the murder, the investigation was entrusted to the CID. However, the victim’s family has alleged that no concrete outcome emerged even after more than 15 years. The incident took place during the Left Front regime in the state.

Welcoming the High Court’s decision, the family of the deceased expressed hope that the CBI probe would finally bring justice. They said that after a long wait, they were optimistic about a positive outcome.

The Calcutta High Court has, in the past, transferred several cases to the CBI for investigation, including those related to post-poll violence after the last Assembly elections and the teachers’ recruitment scam. In many such instances, the probes involved allegations against the current Trinamool Congress government and its leaders.

However, this case stands apart, as it pertains to an incident that occurred during the Left Front government and involves the killing of a Trinamool Congress worker.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh