The Crime Branch of Odisha Police on Saturday took the assistant sub-inspector of police, Gopal Das, who allegedly killed former health minister Naba Kishore Das on January 29, on four-day remand again to crack the mystery behind the murder.

The investigation agency had taken the ASI on remand for the same duration in the immediate wake of the murder. Gopal has been dismissed from service.

The police are facing criticism from both the ruling party BJD and the Opposition BJP and Congress for its failure to pinpoint the motive behind the crime even eight days after the occurrence of the incident. Demanding a probe by an independent agency, Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda, who was on a visit to the state, said: “If such a situation can arise between a minister and police, what will be the position of the common people? Who can the common people believe and trust... At this point investigation into the murder should be made by an independent agency. And its outcome should be made public.”

BJD MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said: “I have got a PSO (personal security officer) who carries a revolver with him. Even I doubt whether the PSO will commit a crime like Gopal Das. So many theories have come up behind the motive of killing the minister. We should not take it lightly. It’s better the case is resolved as soon as possible.”

Taking a dig at the director-general of police Sunil Bansal, who had said that barring lord Jagannath no one could have anticipated the minister’s death, Patnaik said: “The DGP should pray to the lord and the lord will answer his query in finding the motive behind the killings. At least, the additional DGP, crime branch, Arun Bothra will not have to take such pain in going from one place to another to crack the case.”