12 Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended Amit Das, a key suspect in the 2021 murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar in Narkeldanga. The accused, working as a food delivery agent in the Kestopur-New Town area, was produced before Special Court Judge Rohan Sinha on Wednesday and was remanded in jail custody until April 21.
Das's arrest marks a breakthrough in the high-profile case, which has seen 13 arrests so far. Seven suspects, all facing non-bailable arrest warrants, remain at large. The CBI's special crime branch had earlier announced a Rs 50,000 reward for information leading to each fugitive's capture.
On May 2, 2021 — the Bengal state assembly election result day — a mob allegedly attacked a BJP party office on Sitalatalla Lane in the Narkeldanga area. According to CBI sources, Sarkar, who was watching election results at the party office, was brutally beaten after the office was vandalised. Das managed to escape to his home but was reportedly dragged out and beaten to death.
The case was initially investigated by Kolkata Police following a complaint by the victim's brother, Biswajit. Dissatisfied with the local police investigation, the family approached the Calcutta High Court, which transferred the case to the CBI. The central agency has already filed a charge sheet against 12 individuals and eight others have been listed as fugitives.
Recently, following the high court's directive, the case was transferred from Sealdah court to the Kolkata Bichar Bhawan. The victim's family lawyer, Shubhendu Saha, confirmed that the testimony of Sarkar's mother, the first witness in the case, is ongoing but remains incomplete due to her illness.
The court granted the CBI permission to interrogate Das in custody as the investigation continues. The CBI claimed it is trying to track down the remaining seven accused in this case.