Bhopal murder case: Das in 8 days’ police custody

Bankura: When Udayan Das, who murdered and entombed his live-in partner Akansha Sharma, was brought to Bankura court on Tuesday morning, a huge crowd baying for his blood shouted “hang him”. Although a huge police force was deployed outside the CJM court to avert any untoward incident, it was outnumbered. The outrage among the people against the man who had brutally killed an innocent woman from their district was so intense that some of them even pelted stones which missed Udayan because he was shielded by several policemen.

He was brought from Bankura town police station to the court lock-up before 10 am. Thousands of people had gathered by the time (2 pm) he was taken to the court. It is one-minute walk but sensing the hostile mood of the public, the police did not want to take any chance. He was bundled into the prison van which drove up to the court room. There was so much ruckus and noise that the proceedings started only after the gates of the court were closed.

Udayan, who was flown to Kolkata from Raipur on Monday evening, was brought to Bankura by a car late in the night. The Bankura police booked Udayan under sections 302, 201, 365 and 368 of the IPC. From Bhopal, Udayan was taken to Raipur after he confessed that he had killed his parents and buried them in their house in Raipur.

Arup Banerjee, the lawyer of the accused, said that the police had initially started the case under Section 365 and 368 of the IPC, and Sections 302 and 201 were added later. The public prosecutor urged chief judicial magistrate Arun Kumar Nandi of Bankura district court to remand him in eight days’ police custody. Das’ lawyer argued that the body had been recovered and his client’s laptop had also been seized so there was no need for police remand. He also tried to project Das as a mentally-disturbed person.

The public prosecutor pointed out that it was a pre-planned cold-blooded murder and hence the police needed his custody. Accepting the PP’s argument, Judge Nandi said that the whole truth must come out.

Argument and counter-argument was completed in 30 minutes and Judge Nandi sent Das to eight days’ police custody. “During the proceedings in the court, Das appeared totally non-challant and absolutely unrepentant,” a court clerk said.

Speaking to the media, superintendent of police of Bankura Sukhendu Heera said the police had sought eight days’ remand which the court granted. “Our top priority during the remand period will be to establish the motive behind Akansha’s murder,” he added.