Thursday, Jul 24, 2025 23:30 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, Jul 23, 2025 18:01 [IST]
DARJEELING, : The virtual trial in the Madan Tamang murder case began on Wednesday,
with all 47 accused participating via video conference from a Darjeeling court,
while judges and lawyers were present at the City Sessions Court (Bansal Court)
in Kolkata.
Madan
Tamang, then president of the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL), was
brutally hacked to death in broad daylight on May 21, 2010, near the Upper
Clubside area in Darjeeling while overseeing preparations for a public meeting.
Defence
lawyer Pranoy Rai noted that earlier, the accused had to travel to Kolkata for
the trial, but now they can participate virtually.
The
virtual proceedings follow the framing of charges by the Bansal Court on June
26 against the 47 accused. At that time, the court had approved the use of
video conferencing and instructed all accused to appear physically at the
Darjeeling court on each trial date, joining the proceedings virtually.
However, the court also stated that the accused must appear in Kolkata if
directed.
All
47 accused attended Wednesday’s proceedings. The case was initially
investigated by the CID, but after prime accused Nicole Tamang escaped from
custody on August 22, 2010, the case was transferred to the CBI.
The
CBI later filed a chargesheet against 54 individuals, including Gorkha Janmukti
Morcha (GJM) leader Bimal Gurung, his wife, and several senior party leaders,
some of whom are now associated with other political outfits. All of them
appeared in the Darjeeling court on Wednesday.
Of
the 54 originally charged, five are deceased and two are absconding. Among
those currently facing trial is Puran Rai, who is in custody at the Presidency
Correctional Home in Kolkata and participated in the trial from there. The
remaining 46 accused are out on anticipatory bail.
Speaking
about the day’s proceedings, which lasted around half an hour, lawyer Rai said,
“Two petitions were filed by the defence-one seeking the seizure list and the
other requesting translations of statements originally recorded in Nepali.”
The
next hearing has been scheduled for August 25. On that date, Madan Tamang’s
brother is expected to attend proceedings either in person at the Bansal Court
or virtually from Darjeeling, if he so chooses.
