CBI team serves notices to Bimal Gurung, Roshan Giri, Binay Tamang and Others

Darjeeling :  A CBI team served notices to Bimal Gurung and others accused in the Madan Tamang murder case stating that the accused have to appear before the Chief Judge, City Sessions Court, in Kolkata on July 24.

The four-member CBI team with the help of the cops went around serving the notices which were pasted in the premises of the accused as they could not meet them in person.

The list included GJM president Bimal Gurung, general secretary Roshan Giri, assistant secretary Binay Tamang and others.

The notice served by the Special Crime Branch, CBI states: "The Honourable High Court vide order dated 19.07.2017 has issued the following directions to the CBI: "We therefore, direct that on 24th July , 2017 the CBI shall ensure the presence of all accused persons in the Trial Court, as directed by the Division Bench of this Court and other connected matters on 14th December 2016 so that the process of framing of charge can progress further and be completed.

"In view of the above you are therefore, directed to appear before the Court of Ld. Chief Judge, City Sessions Court, Calcutta on 24.07.2017 at 10 am, the date already fixed for consideration of charge …" The notice is signed by Pradhan. The Morcha leaders remained tight-lipped about the notice. Earlier, Binay Tamang had stated that the situation would go out of hand in the Hills if Morcha leaders are arrested in Kolkata. Incidentally, on July 19, Calcutta High Court had directed the city Sessions Court to frame charges against GJM president Bimal Gurung and 21 others in the Madan Tamang murder case by August 17.

Tamang was brutally assassinated on May 21, 2010, at Upper Clubside, Darjeeling, while overseeing preparations of a public meeting.

In December, 2016, a division Bench headed by Justice Ashim Roy had granted anticipatory bail to the Morcha leaders but had specified that the trial against the accused would be conducted by a special CBI court in Kolkata and they would have to stay in the city from the time of framing of the charges and till the completion of trial.

[Via: MP]