Odisha CM meets with the bereaved family of assassinated BJD leader Naba Das, urging for a CBI investigation
In a recent development, the family of Naba Kishore Das, the former Health Minister of Odisha and a senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader, met with the current Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, to discuss the demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Das' murder.
The meeting, which took place at the state secretariat on Wednesday evening, was also attended by State Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania and Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra. The discussion reportedly lasted for 90 minutes.
Dipali Das, Das' daughter, told reporters after the meeting that the Chief Minister assured them that the ongoing Crime Branch investigation will be conducted properly. However, Dipali has questioned the Crime Branch's failure to clearly establish the motive behind the crime and address the possibility of a larger conspiracy.
Naba Das was fatally shot as he stepped out of his vehicle at Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district to attend a statue unveiling ceremony in January 2023. Gopal Das, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police, has been taken into custody for allegedly firing at Naba Kishore Das.
The Crime Branch investigation into Naba Kishore Das' murder was ordered by the BJD government, led by Naveen Patnaik. As of January 2025, there has been no official confirmation yet of the CBI taking over the probe into the murder. The Odisha Chief Minister was reportedly to take the final call on the CBI probe, but no definitive update on that decision is available.
Meanwhile, the local Crime Branch has revived and resumed active investigation into the case as of early August 2025, including visits to the late minister’s residence as part of the probe. Legal proceedings related to the case were noted as ongoing in July and August 2025.
It is worth mentioning that Dipali Das won the by-election for the Jharsuguda Assembly seat after her father's death. Despite her victory, Dipali has expressed concerns about the outcome of the Crime Branch investigation. No further details about the motive behind Das' murder or the current status of the investigation have been provided.
The family's request for a CBI investigation into Das' murder remains unconfirmed, and the current investigative efforts remain with the Crime Branch.
The family's request for a CBI investigation into Naba Kishore Das' murder, amidst growing concerns about a larger conspiracy and the Crime Branch's inability to clearly establish the motive behind his murder, is yet to be confirmed. This request, if granted, could potentially fall under policy-and-legislation and crime-and-justice sectors, which are areas often intertwined with politics. General news outlets have been covering the ongoing developments in the case, which includes the resumption of the Crime Branch investigation and ongoing legal proceedings.
