**Kolkata Police Personnel in Judicial Custody Over BJP Worker Murder**
Three Kolkata police officers have been placed in judicial custody in connection with the murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar, a case that has garnered significant attention due to its association with post-election violence in West Bengal in 2021. The officers, Subhajit Sen, Ratna Sarkar, and Dipankar Debnath, surrendered to the court and will remain in custody until July 31.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently filed a chargesheet that includes these officers, along with other individuals, such as a Trinamool Congress MLA and two councillors. The charges stem from the murder of Sarkar, which took place in Kolkata shortly after the announcement of the 2021 assembly election results. This incident marks the first reported murder linked to the post-election violence in the state.
Subhajit Sen, who was the officer in charge of the Narkeldanga police station at the time of the murder, was later promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) before retiring. Ratna Sarkar, who initially investigated the case as a Sub-Inspector, has since been promoted to Inspector. The third accused, Dipankar Debnath, is a home guard. Their promotions, despite the ongoing investigation, have sparked considerable public debate.
A CBI special judge expressed astonishment at the promotions of the involved officers, questioning the rationale behind such decisions given the serious allegations, stating, “even with such a big allegation, how could two police officers get promoted?”
This case represents the second major CBI investigation involving Kolkata police personnel, following the RG Kar rape and murder case. Additionally, a fourth individual, Sujata Dey, the wife of the prime accused Arun Dey, has also been sent to judicial custody. All accused appeared before the CBI special court seeking bail, which was denied, resulting in their continued detention.
The CBI has charged a total of 38 individuals in connection with the murder case, including Trinamool MLA Paresh Pal and councillors Swapan Samaddar and Papiya Ghosh. A Sealdah court has acknowledged the charges against all accused and issued summons. The CBI took over the investigation in August 2021 after the Calcutta High Court directed it to do so, replacing the Kolkata Police.
MLA Paresh Pal, representing the Beliaghata Assembly constituency, has been accused of conspiring in Sarkar’s murder. The court has summoned him and two other Trinamool leaders to appear by August 12.
**FAQ**
**Q: What is the significance of the Abhijit Sarkar murder case?**
A: The case is significant as it is linked to post-election violence in West Bengal and involves police personnel, raising concerns about law enforcement accountability.
