GUWAHATI: Ghanakanta Gogoi, the prime accused in the deadly shooting at Hotel Bilas Inn in Guwahati that claimed five lives, was sent to judicial custody on November 3 after completing seven days of police remand.
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Sources said that police sought further custody for interrogation, but the CJM court sent him to judicial custody. Sources added that Ghanakanta would have to be presented before the CJM court after 14 days.
On Monday, a day before his police custody was set to conclude, Ghanakanta Gogoi was taken to Hotel Bilas Inn in the Bora Service area for crime scene recreation.
During the reconstruction exercise, investigators took Gogoi inside the hotel, where four people were shot dead. He was subsequently taken to the narrow lane outside the premises, where two other people were fired upon, including the sole survivor of the attack.
The shooting took place on October 26 following an alleged dispute between the hotel owners and Gogoi, who had leased the property, over its management and related issues.
The five deceased were identified as Helena Bharali, her brother Bhudev Bharali, her son Debarshi Kashyap, daughter-in-law Rinika Kashyap and family staff member Narayan Das. The family's driver, Satyendra Pathak, sustained bullet injuries and was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Gogoi, a 34-year-old businessman and the hotel leaseholder, was arrested shortly after the incident. Police also seized a licensed .32-bore pistol allegedly used in the shooting.
Preliminary investigations have pointed towards a dispute over the hotel's lease agreement, including disagreements regarding rent, electricity dues and management of the property.
The Assam Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The crime scene reconstruction is expected to help investigators verify the accused's account, establish the sequence of events and examine the evidence collected so far.
Gogoi was produced before the court today following the completion of his seven-day police remand.
