In the ongoing investigation of the Durga Prasad Deb alias Vicky murder case, defense counsel Samrat Kar Bhowmik on Saturday dismissed the recovery of the alleged murder weapon as a ‘planned drama’. He called for the court to review CCTV footage from the NCC police station and demanded that the pistol and other evidence be sent for forensic testing outside the state.
The police had earlier claimed to have recovered a pistol and three rounds of bullets from a crematorium in Agartala’s Durgabari area following the interrogation of murder accused Rakesh Barman by NCC Police Station personnel. However, Kar Bhowmik contested this narrative on Sunday, asserting that his client, Rakesh Barman, had denied any knowledge of the recovery
“The prosecution stated that the recovery was based on information provided by my client during interrogation. However, Rakesh Barman vehemently denies this and alleges that the police orchestrated the entire event. According to him, the police summoned two witnesses to the NCC police station between 1 PM and 2 PM at night, and then transported him to the crematorium to stage the recovery of the pistol and bullets,” Kar Bhowmik explained.
He further alleged, “The recovery was pre-arranged, with the pistol and bullets planted at the crematorium beforehand.” As a result, the defense counsel demanded that the CJM court order a forensic examination of the recovered pistol outside the state to ensure an impartial investigation.
In response to these claims, the court on Saturday instructed the police to maintain neutrality and ordered that the pistol be sent to an out-of-state forensic laboratory for testing
Moreover, Kar Bhowmik also questioned the appointment of advocate Sankar Lodh as the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the case. He highlighted a conflict of interest, noting that Lodh had previously represented Rakesh Barman and his associates, Raju Barman and Debabrata Barman, in a different case before the Vicky murder incident
“How can advocate Sankar Lodh, who once served as defense counsel for Rakesh Barman, now act as the prosecutor in a case against him?” Kar Bhowmik argued. He demanded the removal of Lodh as SPP in the Vicky murder case.
In a balanced decision, the court restricted advocate Sankar Lodh from appearing in the hearings involving accused Rakesh Barman. Instead, senior advocate Bibbhal Nandi Majumder, also assigned as SPP in the case, was appointed to handle these hearings
Despite this ruling, Kar Bhowmik expressed dissatisfaction and indicated that the accused petitioner, Rakesh Barman, might appeal the CJM court’s order.
The Vicky murder case continues to unfold with new developments, as the defense and prosecution prepare for the next stages of the legal battle. The calls for forensic testing and transparency through CCTV footage highlight the defense’s ongoing efforts to challenge the prosecution’s narrative and seek justice for the accused.
