Hanshkhali, April 29: CBI has arrested Trinamul Congress leader Samaredra Gayali (57) on Tuesday in connection with his alleged involvement in the gang rape and murder of a minor girl in Nadia’s Hanskhakli that occurred on April 4. The central investigating agency that is investigating the case on Calcutta High Court’s order has accused the ruling party’s local strongman of conspiracy and of destroying evidence.
The sleuths at the same time picked up Pijush Bhakta, a Trinamul activist and one of his close aides for similar charges. The duo will be produced before the ACJM court in Ranaghat on Saturday, CBI sources said.
The elderly leader, a member of the party ruled Gajna gram panchayat, is the father of Sohail (alias Brajo) Gayali, a prime accused in the case, who was arrested earlier along with five others friends.
CBI and local sources said that Samarendra was summoned to appear before the probing team at its camp office – PWD inspection bungalow in Krishnagar on Friday and arrested during the evening. Early this week he was also questioned.
On April 4 the victim girl was allegedly raped by Samar’s son Sohail and his friends at his home during a birthday party in his absence. The girl returned home while bleeding excessively and died without treatment the next morning. Knowing about the demise of the girl the Trinamul leader used his political clout and engaged his aides who took away the body at gunpoint and cremated it at an unauthorized crematorium in the village apparently to destroy evidence of the crime committed by his son and his friends.
The CBI officials said that Samarendra’s name came up during the investigation although his name was not figured in the formal police complaint lodged by the victim’s mother. “He played a big role to destroy evidence, and suppress facts by threatening the victim’s parents in a desperate attempt to save his son”, a CBI official said.
Earlier on the day, an Additional District & Session Judge of Ranaghat ACJM court on Friday rejected the bail petitions of five accused who were arrested for their suspected involvement in the alleged gang rape and murder of a minor girl in Nadia’s Hanshkhali.
The other accused, a minor boy, was produced before a juvenile court in Krishnagar which also rejected his bail petition.
On Friday, the CBI team produced the five accused including prime accused Sohail Gayali (alias Brajo) and his four friends – Prabhakar Poddar, Ranjit Mullick, Akash Barui, Dipto Gayali, on expiry of their judicial custody when their defence lawyers appealed for bail in absence of any proof and baseless complaints.
The court approved the CBI lawyer’s submission appealing extension of judicial custody since the probe is at a preliminary stage and if the accused persons are granted bail they could threaten the witnesses