In a dramatic turn of events, all four accused in the highly publicized Bodhisatwa Das murder case were declared “guilty” after a hearing conducted by District and Sessions Judge Subhashish Sharma Roy on Friday.

The verdict was delivered under sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertain to murder and common intention, respectively. However, the final sentence for the convicted individuals will be announced on the upcoming Saturday.

Addressing the reporters, Public Prosecutor Samrat Kar Bhowmik provided insights into the case.

He revealed that the former branch manager of UCB Bank, Dharmanagar branch, was brutally attacked with the intention of murder by four individuals near Sarada Medical Hall, in the Jackson Gate area of the capital city, on August 3, 2019.

Following a comprehensive hearing, all four accused, identified as Sumit Choudhary, Sumit Banik, Sukanta Biswas, and Shoaib Mia, were pronounced guilty by the judge.

Bhowmik highlighted the strength of the prosecution’s case, stating that the accusations against the accused had been substantiated by the testimony of 56 witnesses who appeared in court.

However, he also mentioned an interesting development regarding one of the eyewitnesses, Dr. Abhijit Das of GB Hospital, Agartala. Dr. Das, who was present during the victim’s last moments, claimed to have not heard Bodhisatwa Das’s final statement.

Consequently, the public prosecutor declared that separate proceedings would be initiated against Dr. Das for allegedly lying to the court.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, Advocate Pijush Kanti Biswas, representing the four convicts, voiced his intent to file an appeal against what he deemed an “illegal” judgment.

He criticized the court’s lack of adherence to proper judicial scrutiny, asserting that the judgment failed to consider crucial factors and did not align with the guidelines and verdicts established by the Supreme Court.

Biswas further argued that while it was alleged that Shoaib had stabbed Bodhisatwa, there was no evidence to support the claim that the others present had criminal intentions or a premeditated plan to commit murder.

According to Biswas, they were involved in a drunken brawl, and Shoaib, who suddenly appeared on the scene, committed the murder.

As the case continues to captivate public attention, all eyes are now on the imminent sentencing hearing scheduled for the following Saturday.