Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to probe into the death of Niranjan Baishnab, a close associate of and eyewitness to the murder of Congress councillor Tapan Kandu.

Kandu, the councillor of Jhalda municipality in Purulia district, had been gunned down on March 13. Baishnab was found hanging at his house on April 6.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava ordered the CID to stop its probe into Baishnab’s death and hand over necessary documents to the CBI.

A purported suicide note found near Baishnab’s body said he had faced pressure from the law enforcers to give a “disclosure” on the councillor’s murder against his wish.

The division bench had already handed over the probe into Kandu’s murder to the CBI following a plea by his wife Purnima.

Sources said the court believed the death of Baishnab was linked to Kandu’s murder as he was an eyewitness to and a childhood friend of the slain councillor.

“I am happy that the court has granted my appeal and ordered a CBI probe,” said Baishnab’s brother Nepal who approached the high court for the CBI probe.

Purnima also welcomed the move. “The unnatural death of Niranjanda must have a link with the murder of my husband. We are happy that the CBI will investigate the death,” she said.

The police started a suo motu case against Biplab Kayal, a Jhalda Congress councillor, and some unidentified members of a local Basanti puja committee on Tuesday for allegedly throwing firecrackers at the old building of Jhalda police station on Monday. Kayal is one of the functionaries of the puja committee.

Purulia district police chief S. Selvamurugan said the old building had caught fire after firecrackers had been hurled.