Bimal Gurung to take legal recourse after High Court order

EOI, DARJEELING, JUNE 16, 2024 : After the Calcutta High Court order to include his name in the charge sheet filed by the CBI in the Madan Tamang murder case, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung on Saturday said he would take legal recourse while asserting he was innocent. In August 2017, the City Sessions Court discharged Gurung's name from the list of accused filed by the Central agency. 

However, on Thursday, the court of Justice Subhendu Samanta of Calcutta High Court set aside the ruling of the City Sessions Court, requiring Gurung to stand trial again. "Bimal Gurung stands for Gorkhaland. I will continue to raise my voice for a separate state. However, certain quarters feel that if Bimal Gurung is sidelined then the statehood demand will automatically subside. I am the only poison standing in their path and they are trying to find ways to suppress me," he said.

The All India Gorkha League leader was murdered in broad daylight on May 21, 2010 at the Upper Clubside area while overseeing preparation for a public meeting. Initially, the local police started investigating. 

Later the probe was taken up by the CID. The CID named several accused in its chargesheet but did not include Gurung's name, prompting Tamang's wife Bharati to file a writ petition seeking a CBI inquiry. 

The CBI in its chargesheet named 54 accused including Gurung, his wife Asha and several senior party leaders. Gurung said he had no animosity with the family of the deceased.

In fact it was him who had raised the demand for a Central investigation. "It (murder) was very unfortunate. I can understand the sentiments of the family of the deceased. However, I was the one to raise the demand for a CBI inquiry and wrote to the government and strict punishment to the perpetrators of the crime. I am not selfish and am working for my community with sincerity," he said.