CBI Arrests Main Accused in Scrap Dealer Murder Case After 19 Years, Held in Gorakhpur

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the main accused in the 2007 murder of a scrap dealer in Khejuri, North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, nearly 19 years after the crime. The accused, identified as Shibu Kumar Singh, was apprehended from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, where he had allegedly been living under a false identity to evade arrest.

According to the CBI, the accused had remained absconding since the murder and was declared a proclaimed offender by the court. Investigators said he frequently changed his identity and residence to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.

CBI officials stated that the accused was traced through a combination of technical surveillance, intelligence gathering, and human inputs. He was reportedly living in Gorakhpur under the name Avdhesh Kumar Shahi. Following confirmation of his identity, a CBI team arrested him and is now bringing him to Kolkata, where he will be produced before the competent court.

The case dates back to June 2007, when scrap dealer Sukanta Ghosh was brutally murdered in Khejuri. According to investigators, Ghosh had been lured to a deserted location under the pretext of a business meeting. His body was later recovered with multiple stab wounds, and the post-mortem report confirmed that he had suffered 18 sharp weapon injuries.

During the initial investigation, local police arrested several accused, including Mithu Singh, Bikash Singh, and Digvijay Jha. However, the alleged mastermind, Shibu Kumar Singh, managed to flee. Considering the seriousness of the case, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the CBI on August 27, 2009, after which a Special Investigation Team (SIT) carried out a detailed probe.

The CBI filed its first charge sheet on December 31, 2010, followed by a supplementary charge sheet on November 14, 2011, naming Shibu Kumar Singh and other accused. In December 2016, a court declared him a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear despite repeated summons. Investigators believe the murder was linked to a dispute involving illegal scrap business and extortion demands.

CBI officials said the arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the long-pending case. They expect the interrogation of the accused to reveal further details about the conspiracy, the role of other individuals, and additional evidence connected with the murder. The investigation is continuing.