While hearing a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the alleged murder of two BJP workers in Khejuri in July this year, the Calcutta High Court on Monday observed that handing over the probe to the CBI will make it “a gallery show”.

The single bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh made the observation as the petitioners sought CBI probe. The court had earlier ordered the CID of West Bengal Police to probe the twin murders.

“The CBI is now a gallery show. If this case is handed over to the CBI now, it will become a gallery show,” Justice Ghosh observed, adding the decision on the plea will be announced on Tuesday.

Two BJP workers – Sudhir Chandra Paik (65) and Sujit Das (23) – were found dead after they had gone to watch a cultural programme, ‘Dance Hungama’, organised on the occasion of Muharram in Khejuri’s Janka area. While the organizers of the event claimed that the two died of electrocution, the families claimed that the two were killed for religious reasons.

During the hearing on Monday, Advocate General Kishore Dutta, representing the State, opposed the plea and told the court that while in the case of Sudhir Chandra Paik, the second post-mortem findings were the same as the first one, it was different in the case of the second victim, Sujit Das.

“With contradicting post-mortem reports, the court cannot reach a conclusion. Why will the opinions of the doctors be so different? The opinion can mislead the investigation and the courts. There must be a difference in dying of electrocution and dying of assault,” Justice Ghosh said and added, “If the line of the State doesn’t change, and the court’s grievances are not satisfied after the investigation, the court will again consider the case”.