KOLKATA: In a big relief to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung, the City Sessions Court on Tuesday denied permission to the CBI to issue arrest warrants against Gurung and 21 other accused in the Madan Tamang murder case for not appearing in the court for hearing on Monday.
CBI counsel Arun Bhagat had urged for arrest of 22 of the total 48 accused who skipped the hearing. Bhagat had prayed for arrest warrants against Gurung, his wife Asha and 20 others including senior GJM leaders when they failed to appear before the court on Monday for hearing on framing of charges
Denying permission for arrest warrants, chief judge Kundan Kumar Kumai fixed August 1 to August 4 for hearing on framing of charges and also hearing of discharge petitions against the accused in the 2010 high-profile murder case.
The court also asked Bidhannagar Police and Kolkata police to file reports on allegations that some of the accused were followed after the hearing on Monday.
Defence attorney Sayan De claimed before the court that some of his clients were questioned and followed by policemen after they left the court premises here and went to Gorkha Bhavan in Bidhannagar, where they were staying for the night.
Of the 48 accused against whom the CBI has sought framing of charges for the Tamang’s murder in the heart of Darjeeling in May 2010, 26 accused were present.
The Calcutta High Court had on July 19 asked all the accused, to be present before the court of the chief judge of the City Sessions Court. A division bench presided over by acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre had directed the trial court to hold day-to-day hearing and conclude framing of charges by August 17.