The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested Gopal Das, also known as Bishal Paul, from Rabindranagar in North 24 Parganas in connection with the 2021 post-poll violence murder case that claimed the life of Avijit Sarkar in Kolkata.
Arrest follows long manhunt and reward offer
Gopal Das had been declared a proclaimed offender in the case and had remained absconding since the First Information Report (FIR) was registered in 2021. The agency said the arrest was made on the basis of human intelligence and corroborative technical inputs. The CBI had earlier announced a cash reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to his apprehension.
After his arrest on Tuesday, Das was produced before a competent court in Calcutta, which remanded him to judicial custody, the CBI said. The case continues to be heard before the Court of Learned City Sessions Judge in Calcutta.
Background of the case and charges
The CBI took over the investigation on August 25, 2021, following an order of the Calcutta High Court dated August 19, 2021, when it assumed responsibility for the FIR registered at Narkeldanga Police Station. The FIR relates to the death of Avijit Sarkar on May 2, 2021, at Sitalatala Lane in Kolkata.
During the course of its probe, the agency filed chargesheets and supplementary chargesheets against a total of 38 accused persons in 2021 and 2025. The list of the accused includes, among others, Paresh Pal (then MLA) and two then-Municipal councillors, Swapan Samaddar and Papiya Ghosh. The charges span various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the matter remains sub judice.
- Arrested: Gopal Das alias Bishal Paul
- Location of arrest: Rabindranagar, North 24 Parganas
- Victim: Avijit Sarkar (killed on 2 May 2021, Sitalatala Lane, Kolkata)
- CBI takeover: 25 August 2021 (per Calcutta High Court order dated 19 August 2021)
- Accused named in chargesheets: 38 (filed in 2021 and 2025)
Legal progress and trial status
Following the completion of its probe, the CBI submitted chargesheets against multiple accused, and supplementary documentation in subsequent years. The matter is being adjudicated by the sessions court in Calcutta. With the arrest of a proclaimed offender now effected, the investigation and trial can proceed with the accused in custody.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2 May 2021 | Death of Avijit Sarkar at Sitalatala Lane, Kolkata |
| 19 Aug 2021 | Calcutta High Court order prompting CBI takeover |
| 25 Aug 2021 | CBI registers case and begins probe |
| 2021 & 2025 | Chargesheets and supplementary chargesheets filed against 38 accused |
| 11 Aug 2026 | Arrest of proclaimed offender Gopal Das from Rabindranagar |
Local impact and law-and-order context
The arrest comes amid renewed scrutiny of incidents of post-poll violence that followed the 2021 Assembly elections in the State. Cases tied to that period have attracted sustained attention from courts and investigative agencies. For residents of the affected localities in North and central Kolkata, the development may be seen as a step towards closure in a case that has been in the system for five years.
Police and investigating agencies in Kolkata and surrounding districts have, over the years, faced pressure to expedite inquiries and secure accountability in several politically sensitive cases stemming from the tumultuous post-poll period. The CBI's action in securing a long-sought arrest is likely to be cited in ongoing courtroom proceedings and may influence timelines for further hearings.
No additional comment was released by the accused or his counsel at the time of remand. Proceedings in the sessions court will determine the next stages of incarceration or trial schedule as the matter moves forward.
Further updates are expected as the CBI furnishes the court with evidence and as the trial calendar is listed by the sessions court in Calcutta.
