Investigator debunks accident theory in Kolkata teen’s death

The investigating officer has debunked the theory that teenager Aabesh Dasgupta’s death was probably an accident and not murder, pointing out that it was impossible to trip on the surface of the garage and sustain three major and 26 minor injuries.

“The surface is rough and not slippery so that one can slip, it is smooth without any obstacle where one may trip. The spot is just what a parking lot should be—smooth but not polished which gives one a proper grip without offering the chance of slipping,” said the officer.

“A bigger tell-tale indication was the number of injury marks—about 30—on the body of the victim. Can an accidental trip cause so many injury marks?” he said. On Monday, Kolkata police formed a special investigation team under the leadership of joint commissioner crime Vishal Garg to unravel the mystery of Aabesh’s death.

A section of the police floated the accident theory that triggered widespread scepticism both among the police force and the society in general.

Aabesh Dasgupta, 17, was declared ‘brought dead’ at AMRI Dhakuria after he was found lying in a pool of blood in the parking lot. Five of his friends who were at the spot had left the area without informing anyone.

The officer also told HT that the fact that none of the friends brought the alleged mishap to anyone’s notice and quickly slipped away also pointed to foul play.

“It is next to impossible to suggest that the group of friends vanished after one of them tripped accidentally and started bleeding,” he pointed out.

The investigator doubted the suspicion that the boy was carrying a bottle in one hand and was clasping another one under the arm when he tripped and the bottle landed before him, broke and a sharp edge pierced him under the arm, slicing an artery.

He said if the boy tripped, his natural reflex will lead him to block the fall with his hand and he would not have landed on his armpit. Also, if he tripped, he would have shouted, attracting the attention of security guards. To add to that, if he did fall accidentally, his friends would not have panicked but would have alerted others, especially after seeing him bleed so much.

“None of these happened. On the contrary, the security guards heard a brawl, which points to the theory of foul play,” said the officer. The mother and grandmother of Aabesh Dasgupta, too, have strongly doubted the accident theory and have constantly suspected that since influential families are involved in the incident, a cover-up is in the process.