Ex-BDO, named in murder case, gets drink-driving bail

Kolkata: Former Rajganj BDO Prashanta Barman, who had been on the run for months following the murder of a Salt Lake gold trader, Swapan Kamilya, despite a Supreme Court order in Feb to surrender, walked out on bail on Tuesday evening, within less than 24 hours of being arrested in a drink-driving case in New Town around 10.30 pm on Monday. Barman, the dismissed BDO, was produced before a special court in the Barasat court, where the judge reserved the order until 8 pm on Tuesday but eventually, had to grant him bail under Motor Vehicles Act as the murder case documents failed to reach the court and the investigating officer did not appear.Following the bail order, Barman left the Barasat court premises in his lawyer's car. His lawyer Raj Zaman said, "The judge reserved the order for a long time in the Motor Vehicles Act case. Finally, after 8 pm, he granted bail. Barman was released on a personal bond of Rs 1,000."Govt lawyer Labanya Jana said, "The judge granted bail under the Motor Vehicles Act provisions. The gold trader murder case against Barman is still pending. The HC and SC had rejected his bail plea. An arrest warrant was issued against him and a charge sheet in the murder case was filed. As a govt lawyer, I placed all the facts before the judge. There are some technical issues. The court will pass the appropriate order."Barman was arrested by cops of the Eco Park PS in an alleged drink-driving and reckless-driving case in New Town on Monday night. Police registered a case under Sections 281 and 125(B) of the BNS, along with Sections 184 and 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, dealing with allegations of reckless and dangerous driving, causing injury and driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said Barman was the driving an SUV and hit a pedestrian. A scooter rider immediately blocked Barman's vehicle, preventing him from fleeing till cops arrived. The scooter-rider even made a Facebook Live that was widely circulated.The arrest drew immediate attention as Barman had until then been absconding in connection with the kidnap and murder of gold trader Kamilya.Minister Agnimitra Paul too went on record, saying, "Trinamool couldn't arrest him for months and within 15 days of the new govt being formed, Barman is found and is in police custody. This is the impact of the BJP govt."Kamilya, who owned a jewellery business in Duttabad, Salt Lake, was reportedly abducted from his shop on Oct 28 last year and taken to a flat in New Town, where he was murdered. His body was found the next day near the canal in Jatragachhi. Five persons were earlier arrested and Barman was mentioned as the key accused.