Kolkata, Oct 8 — Prashant Burman, the absconding Block Development Officer (BDO) from Raiganj in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal and an accused in the murder of a gold trader in the state, failed to comply with the deadline set by the Calcutta High Court to surrender within 48 hours of its October 6 order.
Instead of surrendering, Burman approached the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's order in the matter.
On October 6, a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court headed by Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai directed that steps be initiated for the attachment of Burman's properties unless he surrendered in connection with the murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya.
The Division Bench also directed the state government to stop payment of his salary with immediate effect.
However, the matter has now taken a new turn, with Burman choosing to move the apex court instead of complying with the High Court's direction to surrender.
In October last year, Prashant Burman, the suspended BDO of Rajganj in Jalpaiguri district, was named as an accused in the murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya, a resident of West Midnapore.
He did not surrender before the lower court despite a Supreme Court order directing him to do so in January.
Burman was subsequently arrested in a separate case involving alleged violations of road-safety rules and was granted bail the following day.
The state government had informed the High Court that Burman was untraceable.
The court had earlier questioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over its failure to locate him.
Last year, Burman, then serving as the BDO of Rajganj, was identified as the principal accused in the alleged kidnapping and murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya in the Duttabad area of Salt Lake.
He has remained absconding since then.