GJM wants Tamang murder case shifted out of Kolkata

TH, 25 July 2017, Kolkata: A city court on Tuesday turned down a plea from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking a non-bailable warrant against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung and 21 others who did not appear in court for a hearing on framing of charges in the Madan Tamang murder case.

Chief Judge of City Session Court K.K. Kumai rejected the CBI petition and allowed the accused to record their statement under Section 317 of CrPC where the presence of the accused is not required.

Apart from Bimal Gurung, senior GJM leaders Asha Gurung, Roshan Giri, Binay Tamang and Devendra Sharma were among those absent. All India Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang was killed in Darjeeling in May 2010. Of the 54 accused in the case, four have died while two are absconding. Of the 48 remaining accused, 26 were present in the court on Monday for framing of charges as per directions of the Calcutta High Court.

Pointing out that the charges in the case cannot be framed unless all accused are present in the Court, CBI counsel Arun Bhagat had on Monday asked the Court to issue non-bailable warrants against Mr. Gurung and others.

Meanwhile, in another development, the GJM leadership has approached the Supreme Court seeking that the trial be shifted out of Kolkata. GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said the GJM leadership was unwilling to present itself at a court in Kolkata apprehending a threat to life.

The counsel for the GJM leaders said the police had followed the 26 accused to Gorkha Bhawan in Salt Lake where the police questioned some of them. The Judge sought a report from the Bidhannagar City Police.