In Kolkata on November 29, the Rajganj Block Development Officer (BDO) Prashant Barman was granted anticipatory bail by a court after being charged in the murder of a gold trader. The Bidhannagar Sub‑divisional Court set the bail at ₹50 000 on a bond.
When he emerged from the courtroom, Barman said, “I will not say anything about the pending case. I respect the media. But you should not play the role of a judge.”
The BDO previously received anticipatory bail from the Barasat Court on 26 November, but the order only took effect when he personally appeared at the Bidhannagar Court on Saturday. Following that appearance, the court formally released him. Court sources added that Barman is now required to cooperate with investigators.
Victims’ families and the deceased gold trader’s relatives have expressed concern over the bail, noting that they had filed a complaint against Barman. Although several of Barman’s close aides were arrested, he himself has not been taken into custody. The family questions how he could be allowed anticipatory bail even after a formal complaint was lodged.
At present, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the gold trader’s murder. On October 28, gold merchant Swapan Kamilya disappeared while leaving a shop in the Duttabad area of Kolkata. The same day, his family filed a missing‑person report at Bidhannagar South Police Station. The police later discovered a body in the Jatragachi area of Kolkata’s New Town, which the family identified as Swapan after viewing his photograph. Thereafter, a case was registered against the suspects under kidnapping and murder provisions.
The family alleges that Barman orchestrated the murder, claiming he personally kidnapped and killed the gold trader. During the investigation, police arrested five individuals tied to the incident, including Barman’s driver Raju Dhali, close friend Tufan Thapa, Trinamool leader Sajal Sarkar, and his brother Vivekananda Sarkar.
Reports suggest that after the murder an attempt was made to dispose of the body using a government vehicle equipped with a blue beacon. Consequently, questions have arisen about Barman’s involvement from the outset. Police have seized the government car suspected of being used to transport the body.
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