Amit Chaudhuri, daughter quizzed in teen death

Intensifying its probe into teenager Abesh Dasgupta’s mysterious death, the special investigation team (SIT) of the Kolkata police questioned author Amit Chaudhuri and his daughter at Lalbazar, the city police headquarters, for nearly three hours on Tuesday evening.

Abesh, the 17-year-old student of an international school, was part of the birthday party of Mr Chaudhuri’s daughter at the housing apartment in Sunny Park of Ballygunge on July 23. After getting summons from the SIT, the author and his daughter went to Lalbazar at around 4.45 pm and walked into the homicide section’s office at the detective department (DD) building.

The SIT officers questioned them separately about the incident and those, including Abesh, who attended the celebration, sources disclosed. Video recording of the questioning sessions was done also. The author and his daughter left Lalbazar at around 8 pm after recording their statements, sources revealed.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is now in New Delhi, is going to visit Aabesh’s family following her return to the city on July 29, according to sources. Abesh’s seven friends, including a girl, who attended the ill-fated birthday party were also questioned. Four of them had fled after the tragedy.

Among questioned, one was the boy with whom Aabesh went to the event. After the incident he hurriedly left the housing apartment telling others that he was going to visit his ailing mother admitted at a hospital. The boy however did not go to the hospital, the SIT learnt.

In the afternoon, the SIT officers visited Princeton Club where the group of 17 had lunch on July 23 and collected a hard disc containing the CCTV footage. They also questioned some club officials over four hours. At night, deputy commissioner of police (II) of the DD: Neelu Sherpa Chakraborty, also a senior SIT official, visited Aabesh’ residence at Lake Avenue and spoke to his mother Rimjhim and relatives.

During her visit she wanted to know their grievances. Aabesh’s uncle, Ritesh Thakkar, later said, “Ms Chakraborty assured us that the probe is progressing fast. Without divulging the details of the probe, she told us that the probe is underway round the clock. We are now hopeful justice will be delivered.”

Rejecting the possibility that Aabesh’s death was accidental his family members believe that he was murdered. They also suspect that the probe may get influenced. Meanwhile Aabesh’s mother Rimjhim Dasgupta and other family members have launched a ‘Justice For Aabesh’ campaign on Facebook. A candle-light memorial was also organised at Lake Avenue in the evening. Many eminent musicians participated in the event.

In the morning noted film actor Rituparna Sengupta visited Aabesh’s home to pay her condolences. Ruling out accidental death angle, she also urged the police and administration to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry to give justice to Aabesh and his family.

“A mother has lost his son after losing her husband six months ago. Nothing can be more painful to her than this. Swagatoda was like my elder brother. The way Aabesh died does not suggest it was a natural death,” she said. Some friends of Aabesh and the girl he was in affair with also demanded justice into his death.