Kolkata: Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed former Rajganj BDO Prashanta Barman, who has been absconding for months in connection with the murder of Salt Lake gold trader Swapan Kamilya, to surrender before police within 48 hours, by 3.30 pm on Thursday.The division bench of Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai also directed that Barman’s salary be stopped and his properties attached. The CID was asked to submit a report on Dec 14, when the matter will be heard next.The case against Barman, former Rajganj BDO, stems from the abduction and murder of 45-year-old Kamilya, whose body was found in New Town on Oct 29, 2023.According to the victim’s family and police complaints, Barman and his associates allegedly abducted Swapan Kamilya over a financial dispute, murdered him and disposed of his body. Both the HC and Supreme Court had earlier cancelled Barman’s anticipatory bail.Barman was briefly detained in New Town in a drink-drive case. He was granted bail after papers relating to the murder case failed to reach a Barasat court in time.
