NEW DELHI, Nov 25, 2005
Harbans Lal
NRI Pratul Deb murder case,
daughter Dr. Sipra Deb addressing the press in New
Delhi today, said that she had mentioned names of
Assam Social Welfare Minister Goutam Roy and his son
Rahul in her report to the CBI. These two names are
among the others whom she suspects to be involved
in her father’s murder. Dr Deb, however, said
that she was not happy with the progress made by the
CBI so far in dealing with the case.
However, the CBI is yet to complete the investigation
to uncover the conspiracy behind the kidnapping of
Deb, who had also contested Assembly elections against
Congress minister Gautam Roy in 2001.
The CBI has so far detained eight persons for their
alleged involvement in the kidnapping. Three of the
men charged are already in police custody.The chargesheeted
included Sardev Chakma, Krishna Medhar Chakma, Kalpuna
Chakma, Roopdhan Chakma, Sahrdev Chakma, Batipura
Chakma, Khegun Chakma and Raiput Chakma, agency sources
said in New Delhi on Saturday. The abductors had taken
ransom of Rs 2.5 lakh from the family members of Deb
on two occasions.
During investigations, the CBI found that these people
had kidnapped Deb along with his friend on March 17,
2004 and later killed him. They buried the body near
a river bed after the police started tightening the
cordon in search of the industrialist.
The CBI has also questioned Mr Deb’s brother-in-law
and Assam’s social welfare minister Gautam Roy
and his son Rahul Roy in connection with the murder.
But neither the minister nor his son were named in
the chargesheet. Goutam Roy has distributed a copy
of the affidavit which he had filed in the Guwahati
High Court to the reporters in New Delhi before leaving
for Guwahati via Kolkatta yesterday. He has specifically
mentioned in it that he has no objection to a CBI
inquiry related to the case.
"This is my fifth visit to the country pursuing
the case. The two officers who were dealing with
the case are no longer related to it. DIG Behera has
completed his deputation term and is returning to
his core Department. ML Mishra has been deputed to
Kosova. I have requested the higher officials to extend
their term so that the CBI could at least make some
progress in the case. But unfortunately, my request
has been turned down. If this continues, I fear that
the main conspirators may go scot-free," said
Sipra.
"When the minister himself said that he was
ready for a CBI inquiry, why did it take 19 months
for the process to start? When I met Chief Minister
Tarun Gogoi after six months of my father’s kidnapping
he assured me that within seven days a CBI inquiry
will start. But he had failed to keep his promise.
Instead, a false statement by the Government was spread
that a CBI inquiry had already been started. It proves
that some people who have vested interests do not
want me to know about the conspirators who are involved
in my father’s murder," said Sipra.
"There should be continuity in the investigation.
I think the CBI will file another supplementary charge
sheet where they will name the conspirators. I have
requested the CBI to file the supplementary charge
sheet without further delay. This is the last and
the final hope to nail down the conspirators who are
involved in the murder of my father. If the process
gets delayed the conspirators may go scot-free,"
she said.
When asked whether she thought there was some political
pressure on the CBI, she replied in the negative.
"It is very difficult for me to think on that
line. My last hope lies with the CBI."
Sources in the CBI revealed that the case will continue
without any obstacle in spite of all odds. "The
officer who will take charge in place of Behera too
will work in the same manner. The case won’t
take a back seat. We are filing the first charge sheet
very soon (likely on Monday). This is not the end.
We will continue to investigate. If we find more relevant
facts during the course of investigation, we may file
another supplementary charge sheet." said Giridhari
Mohanty, spokesperson of the CBI. When asked whether
there is some pressure on the CBI to go slow on the
investigation process, Mohanty was categorical: "There
is no pressure on us."
