CBI Arrests Proclaimed Offender Gopal Das Alias Bishal Paul in 2021 West Bengal Post-Poll Violence Murder Case
Kolkata, August 11, 2026:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Gopal Das, also known as Bishal Paul, a proclaimed offender in a 2021 post-poll violence murder case in West Bengal. The accused was apprehended on August 11, 2026, from Rabindranagar in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas district, after remaining at large since the registration of the case in 2021.
According to the CBI, the accused had not joined the investigation or appeared for the trial proceedings since the case was registered. The agency had also announced a cash reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to his arrest. Investigators eventually traced and apprehended him with the help of human intelligence and technical inputs.
Case Linked to the Murder of Avijit Sarkar
The case relates to the alleged murder of Avijit Sarkar, which took place on May 2, 2021, at Sitalatala Lane in Kolkata amid violence reported in West Bengal following the Assembly elections.
The CBI took over the investigation on August 25, 2021, following an order issued by the Calcutta High Court on August 19, 2021. The agency assumed responsibility for Narkeldanga Police Station FIR No. 124/2021 and began investigating the circumstances surrounding Sarkar’s alleged murder.
The case formed part of the investigations into incidents of post-poll violence reported in the state after the 2021 Assembly elections. The CBI examined the available evidence and the alleged involvement of individuals named in connection with the incident.
Chargesheets Filed Against 38 Accused
After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet and supplementary chargesheets against 38 accused persons in 2021 and 2025 under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Gopal Das alias Bishal Paul was among those named in the chargesheets. The list of accused also included Paresh Pal, the then Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA, and former TMC councillors Swapan Samaddar and Papiya Ghosh.
The case is currently under trial before the City Sessions Court in Calcutta. The court proceedings will determine the allegations against the accused in accordance with the law.
₹50,000 Reward Announced for Information
As Gopal Das had reportedly remained absconding since the case was registered, the CBI announced a cash reward of ₹50,000 in connection with efforts to trace him.
The agency used human intelligence and technical inputs to establish his whereabouts. These efforts led investigators to Rabindranagar in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, where the accused was arrested on August 11, 2026.
His arrest marks a significant development in a case that has remained under judicial consideration for several years.
Court Remands Accused to Judicial Custody
Following his arrest, Gopal Das alias Bishal Paul was produced before the competent court in Calcutta on August 11, 2026. The court remanded him to judicial custody.
The CBI’s investigation and subsequent legal proceedings form part of the broader efforts to address allegations arising from the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal. With the accused now in custody, further proceedings will take place before the court handling the case.
The allegations against the accused remain subject to judicial determination, and the court will decide the matter based on the evidence and applicable law.
News Source: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) – Official Press Release
