A special CBI court in Kolkata has framed charges against 19 individuals, including former Trinamool Congress MLA Pares Paul and ex-KMC councillor Swapan Samaddar, in the murder case of BJP worker Avijit Sarkar. The victim was killed during post-poll violence following the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections. Both Paul and Samaddar were questioned multiple times by the CBI in connection with the case.
The murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar, allegedly by Trinamool Congress activists, occurred after the announcement of the 2021 assembly election results. Family members claimed that Sarkar was brutally tortured and killed. Initially, the Narkeldanga Police Station conducted an investigation and filed a chargesheet against 15 individuals.
Following a complaint from the victim’s family, the investigation was taken over by the CBI as per the orders of the Calcutta High Court. The CBI named a total of 20 accused in an additional chargesheet and arrested the former officer-in-charge and a lady sub-inspector of Kankurgachi Police Station. The court, during a bail hearing, raised concerns about the role of protectors turning into perpetrators.
After the recent West Bengal assembly polls, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari vowed that no one involved in cases related to the 2021 post-poll violence would be spared. The completion of the charge framing process in the special CBI court on Wednesday marks a significant development in the case.
