Kolkata, 25 August (H.S.): The Calcutta High Court on Monday indicated that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police would take over the probe into the Khejuri double murder case in East Midnapore. During oral observations, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh ruled out handing the case to the CBI at this stage, remarking, “CBI is now a gallery show. If the case is given to them, it will turn into a gallery show.” The court is expected to issue a final order on Tuesday.
Justice Ghosh said the investigation would be handed to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of a DIG-rank officer, with officials from the homicide branch also included. The SIT will function under the overall supervision of the ADG, CID. The court stressed that the situation was not yet appropriate for a CBI probe.
On July 11, a religious gathering was organised in Khejuri during Muharram. The following morning, the bodies of two local residents — Sudhir Paik and Sujit Das — were recovered near the venue. Organisers claimed they had died of electrocution, but local BJP leaders alleged the killings were carried out for religious reasons.
The case grew contentious after two post-mortem examinations produced contradictory findings. The first autopsy at Tamluk Medical College in East Midnapore concluded that the deaths were due to electrocution. However, the families of the deceased challenged the report in the High Court. Acting on the court’s direction, a second autopsy was conducted at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, which revealed injury marks on the bodies, raising suspicion of homicide.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the conflicting reports, Justice Ghosh questioned the credibility of local forensic experts, asking whether they lacked experience or were being influenced by local factors.
Against this backdrop, the court observed that the investigation should be placed under the supervision of senior police officers through the CID’s SIT, rather than the CBI at this stage.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
