CBI Arrests TMC Leader In Congress Councillor Tapan Kandu's Murder Case: Report

The accused was detained by CBI earlier as well, but the central agency had to release him as his health conditions deteriorated.

Congress activists protest in Kolkata after Tapan Kandu was killed due to bullet injury. (File Photo/ Getty)

Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday made the first arrest in connection with the murder of Congress councillor Tapan Kandu in West Bengal's Purulia district.

According to reports, the arrested man is a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and non-teaching staff at a primary school. "He was arrested in the early hours of the day after he was interrogated for around 21 hours by officers of the investigating agency, a senior officer told news agency PTI.

"We have found discrepancies in his answers. There are still several grey areas that he requires to answer. We are questioning him," the CBI officer said.

So far at least five people have been arrested by Bengal Police in connection with the murder case. This would be CBI's first arrest after taking over the case from Bengal Police after Calcutta High Court's orders.

The accused was detained by CBI earlier as well, but the central agency had to release him as his health conditions deteriorated.

"We have found discrepancies in his answers. There are still several grey areas that he requires to answer. We are questioning him," the CBI officer told PTI.

The murder took place on March 13 when Kandu was shot dead near his residence in Purulia while out on a walk. An eyewitness of the murder, Kandu's friend Niranjan Baishnab, was also found dead at his residence last week.

Kandu was a popular leader of the Congress party and had won from ward number 2 of Jhalda Municipality for the fourth time in the civic polls held in February.

The Congress leader was murdered weeks after the civic polls which had resulted in a hung house leaving both Congress and TMC with five seats each. Independent candidates secured 2 seats.

After Kandu's death, TMC formed the board in the area.

(With inputs from PTI.)