Court sends 4 people, including 3 cops to jail in 2021 Abhijit Sarkar murder case

The court sent four people, including three police personnel, to jail in connection with the BJP leader Abhijit Sarkar's murder case that took place in 2021 during post-poll violence. The gruesome murder, which was committed at Kolkata's Kankurgachi area, sent shockwaves around the state as well as the nation.

Meanwhile, the court on Friday rejected the bail applications of retired Kolkata Police Assistant Commissioner (then Narkeldanga OC) Subhajit Sen and alleged "aide in murder" Sujata Dey. The court remanded both to judicial custody until July 31. The judge also ordered the immediate judicial custody for then Sub-Inspector Ratna Sarkar and Home Guard Dipankar Debnath in connection with the same case, signaling a stringent approach towards alleged police misconduct.

During the hearing, the judge made a scathing remark, stating, "What will happen to society if the guardians themselves become predators?" This powerful comment underscored the court's dismay at the alleged involvement of police personnel in the heinous crime. The judge also questioned why the police officer had met with the deceased Abhijit Sarkar's mother without informing the investigating officer (IO) of the case, raising concerns about transparency and procedural integrity.

It is pertinent to recall that in 2021, widespread unrest was reported across various parts of West Bengal following the declaration of the Assembly election results. It was during this period of alleged post-poll violence that Abhijit Sarkar was reportedly murdered in Kankurgachi. His family alleged that immediately after the results were declared, Abhijit was brutally beaten and strangled with a wire around his neck, leading to his death. Initially, the Narkeldanga police station was handling the investigation of the incident.