Kolkata, 02 July (H.S.) : A Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court in Kolkata has completed the process of framing charges against 19 accused, including former Trinamool Congress MLA Pares Paul and former Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillor Swapan Samaddar, in the murder case of BJP worker Avijit Sarkar, who was killed during the post-poll violence that followed the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.

The charge-framing marks a significant step in the trial of the high-profile case, in which Paul, the former MLA from the Beliaghata Assembly constituency, and Samaddar are among the principal accused. Both leaders had been questioned by CBI investigators on multiple occasions during the course of the investigation.

Avijit Sarkar, a BJP worker from the Kankurgachi area of North Kolkata, was allegedly attacked and killed by Trinamool Congress activists shortly after the declaration of the 2021 Assembly election results. His family alleged that he was brutally assaulted before being murdered.

The case was initially investigated by the Narkeldanga Police Station, which filed a chargesheet against 15 accused based on the family's complaint. However, following directions from the Calcutta High Court, the investigation was transferred to the CBI.

During its probe, the CBI filed a supplementary chargesheet naming a total of 20 accused. The agency also arrested the then Officer-in-Charge of Kankurgachi Police Station and a woman Sub-Inspector in connection with the case.

While hearing their bail pleas, the court had observed that serious concerns arise when those entrusted with protecting the law are themselves accused of participating in criminal acts. The victim's family had also expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of the CBI investigation.

Following the recent change of government in West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that all those involved in cases related to the 2021 post-poll violence would be brought to justice.

With the completion of the charge-framing process against 19 accused, the trial in the case is now set to proceed before the Special CBI Court.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh