BJP MLA's death a case of 'suicide', probe handed over to CID: Home Secy

MP | 14 July 2020 | Kolkata: The unnatural death of Hemtabad's BJP MLA Debendranath Roy has come up to be a case of "suicide" as it is being suspected that the victim was suffering from depression after his project to set up a rice mill failed despite investing around Rs 1.5 crore to two of his close aides. 

State Home Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said: "The unnatural death of Roy has caused consternation in the public mind. The body of the MLA was found hanging on Monday at 5.30 am from a bamboo structure of a tin shed in front of a mobile shop where he often used to visit to meet his peers. The body was sent for post-mortem to Raiganj Medical College and Hospital, which mentions one non-continuous ligature mark on neck and one pressure abrasion were found on the victim's left hand and notes that 'injuries showing evidence of vital reactions and was ante-mortem. No other injury was detected'. 

The report also mentioned that 'death was due to the effects of hanging as noted above ante-mortem in nature. Further information, if any, will be provided after the receipt of the chemical examination report.' The post-mortem report and examining attendance circumstances of witnesses and evidence, the West Bengal Police is prima facie of the opinion that this is a case of suspected suicide. 

A piece of paper or note purportedly written by the deceased appearing on the shirt pocket of the deceased names two persons and gives their photographs and mobile numbers. "The state police have examined the antecedents and activities of the two aforesaid named persons and it appeared that they were involved in some para-banking or mini-banking activities in the locality. The context of informal banking in the background is being examined by the police." 

He further added: "Government of West Bengal is committed to transparency and comprehensive investigation of the incident. It condemns all murders and it is particularly interested in unravelling the truth behind the incident which has created consternation in the public mind. 

The investigation will be taken to a logical end. The investigation has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). No political consideration will be allowed to interfere with an impartial investigation into the incident." 

Prima facie opinion of the state police considers it to be "a case of suspected suicide" and brings an end to all allegations of BJP claiming that he was murdered and later hanged to distract the cops. 

The deceased had mentioned the names of two of his close aides — Nilay Sinha and Mahbud Ali — along with their photographs and phone numbers in the suicide note. He had also stated that "these two are responsible for my death". 

The state police are probing into the context of "informal banking" at the backdrop of the incident. 

Police detained Nilay, who is a resident of Englishbazar in Malda, while Mahbud is still at large. Mahbud is a resident of Chanchal. Malda district police handed over Nilay to the CID for interrogation. 

The police came to know after preliminary investigation that the victim, who used to work in a bank at Muhimganj, came in touch with Nilay for the first time in 2016. Nilay had even stayed in a rented room in the MLA's house. Six to seven months ago, the MLA planned to set up a rice mill as he was also into the business of Tulaipanji rice. 

Police suspect that Roy had somehow managed to collect around Rs 1.37 crore from the bank where he worked. He also collected some money from his close ones and handed over around Rs 1.5 crore to Nilay and Mahbud to set up the rice mill. 

But the project did not materialise and it led to the victim's depression as he failed to clear all his debts, the police suspect. 

The cops are, however, trying to get more details into the financial aspects. 

Meanwhile, BJP ransacked three buses as they gathered at different places allegedly violating COVID-19 norms to make people observe bandh in North Bengal.  

(Courtesy & source-http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/bjp-mlas-death-a-case-of-suicide-probe-handed-over-to-cid-home-secy-412786)