EOI, DARJEELING, FEBRUARY 15: The Darjeeling Police on Saturday arrested Ayush Rai in a case related to the murder of Sub-Inspector Amitava Malik, days after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung was granted bail.
“The Darjeeling police today arrested Ayush Rai with a warrant pending against him in the murder case of police officer Amitava Malik. The chargesheet was filed against Rai in 2017, but he was absconding,” said APP Pankaj Prasad.
During the 2017 statehood agitation, Gurung and some of his aides were on the run and hiding near the banks of the Chota Rangit river, some 25 km away from Darjeeling. On October 13, 2017, a police team led by SI Malik raided the Sirubari forest area near the bank of the Chota Rangit river. In an exchange of fire, he was shot and died on the spot.
A suo-motu FIR had been lodged by the police at the Darjeeling Sadar police station, and Gurung and 26 others had been named. The investigation was initially handled by the police before being transferred to the CID.
On November 6, 2024, Gurung filed for anticipatory bail before the High Court Jalpaiguri Circuit bench. On January 30 this year, the Jalpaiguri HC bench granted anticipatory bail to Gurung and directed him to surrender before a lower court. Accordingly, Gurung surrendered before the CJM court on February 13 and was granted regular bail.
The APP said Rai had applied for a bail plea, but this had been rejected by the court. “He (Rai) was produced in court today, and his bail plea was rejected. He has been sent to 14 days judicial custody after which he will have to be produced in court again,” Prasad said.
