PIL Seeking CBI Probe Into Murder Of TMC Councillor Anupam Dutta: Calcutta HC Seeks State Gov's Response

The Calcutta High Court on Monday sought the State government's response in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the murder of Panihati Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Anupam Dutta. 

According to reports, Councillor Anupam Dutta was shot dead on March 12 when he had gone to take stock of work on a park in his area. CCTV footage of the area shows Dutta riding pillion on a two-wheeler when he was shot at point-blank rage. The assailant was seen wearing a blue and white striped T-shirt besides a mask.

In a separate incident on the same day, in Purulia district, four-time Congress councillor of Jhalda municipality, Tapan Kundu, was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-borne persons when he went for a walk near his residence. The High Court had subsequently ordered a CBI probe into the incident by opining that there is a need for instilling faith of the public at large. 

On Monday, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj was apprised by the counsel appearing for the petitioner that a CBI probe in necessary into the brutal murder of councillor Anupam Dutta. 

The Bench was further informed that a Single Judge Bench had already ordered a CBI probe into the death of former Congress councillor of Jhalda Municipality in Purulia, Tapan Kandu. 

At this point, the counsel for the State apprised the Bench that the State government had preferred an appeal against the Single Judge order for a CBI probe and that the appeal is listed for hearing before the Division Bench on April 28. Accordingly, the counsel prayed before the Bench to take up the instant PIL for hearing after April 28. 

Pursuant to the submissions by the concerned counsel, the Bench ordered the State government to obtain instructions in the matter within a period of 1 week and listed the matter for further hearing on May 2. 

The Court also ordered the petitioner to serve the CBI in the matter and file an affidavit of service to this effect. 

Case Title: Anindya Sundar Das v. State of West Bengal and Ors