“Not Safe To Allow Local Police To Continue Investigation”: Calcutta High Court Transfers Khejuri Murder Probe To CID

The Calcutta High Court has directed the state CID to investigate the murder of two men who were brutally killed in West Bengal's Khejuri.Justice Tirthankar Ghosh held: “Having regard to the factum of instilling public confidence in an investigation both in respect of the manner of investigation process, the difference in the opinion of the Autopsy Surgeons and the fact that the incident happened simultaneously at the same place which raises a doubt after obtaining the second post-mortem report, I am of the opinion that it would not be safe to allow the investigation to be continued by the local police authorities of Khejuri Police Station. Accordingly ADG, CID, Bhabani Bhavan, West Bengal is hereby directed to engage an Officer in the rank of DIG, CID, West Bengal who would form a Special Investigating Team from the Homicide Section of the CID, for the purposes of investigation.”Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the deaths of the victims are shrouded in circumstances that are not only suspicious but also deeply disturbing, revealing a shocking instance of brutality coupled with deliberate and conscious inaction on the part of the police authorities. It was argued that a post-mortem was staged, which was absolutely contrary to the bruises on the body of the deceased, and this had raised questions regarding the authenticity as well as the will of the investigating agency to carry out a free and impartial investigation.It was stated that on the intervening night of 11th and 12th July, 2025, a cultural dance programme was organised by the Muharram committee, Paschim Bhanganbari Kolmore, District Purba Medinipur, which continued till the early morning hours of 12.07.2025. The said event was held from 11th to 16th July 2025, without any valid permission from the Local Police Authority.It was submitted that at around 4:00 AM on 12.07.2025, the petitioner was informed by the Village people that at about 2:00 AM on 12th July 2025, Sudhir Chandra Paik collapsed under mysterious circumstances during the course of the programme along with another person, being Sujit Das, and that both were taken to Janka Hospital. However, when the petitioner reached the hospital at around 4:30 AM, he was shocked to see that no proper medical attention was provided to the deceased.Counsel submitted that the conduct of the police authorities were absolutely shocking, and even after two hours of the fatal incident, the family members were not informed. Instead, they came to know the same from the villagers at about 4:00 AM that two of them were ill.When the petitioners approached the body, they realised that the persons had passed away and in spite of revealing their identity, the hospital staff and attending doctors initially refused to disclose any information about the circumstances relating to cause of death and prevented the family members from viewing the body of the deceased.It was observed that multiple injury marks were available in the body of the deceased person, especially being bruises and injuries on the forehead, neck and lower back with visible bleeding. Soon, thereafter, inquests were conducted and the bodies were shifted for post-mortem to Tamluk District Hospital, after initial handling at Janka Hospital.Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the police authorities sent the body of the deceased persons for post-mortem examination on 12.07.2025 to Tamluk Hospital, and the cause of death was listed as electrocution, despite clear evidence of multiple external injuries, which raised strong suspicion of foul play on the part of the police authorities. Court noted the discrepancies between the two post-mortem reports made by the doctors at the Tamluk Hospital and SSKM hospital, coupled with the complainant's allegation that he came to know from eyewitnesses that the accused persons, with deadly weapons, assaulted his father to death.It was noted that another complainant informed in his complaint that he came to know from eyewitnesses that the accused who were associated with the Muharram Committee, assaulted his son Sujit Das and Sudhir Chandra Paik to death.It was observed that the police authorities till date, did not try to ascertain who the eyewitnesses were who saw the deceased being assaulted to death. Further, the second post-mortem examination of Sujit Das was diametrically opposite to that of the first post-mortem report, which was obtained from the Tamralipto Govt. Medical College & Hospital.Accordingly, the court ordered the probe to be handed over to the CID from the local police authorities.Case: Subhash Chandra Paik @ ChandaraCase No: W.P.A. 15931 of 2025Click here to read order

“Not Safe To Allow Local Police To Continue Investigation”: Calcutta High Court Transfers Khejuri Murder Probe To CID

Srinjoy Das

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