AGARTALA, Dec 10 (TIWN): Tripura High court on Thursday released the Dainik Ganadoot editor-cum-owner Sushil Choudhury after he was found acquitted in the Ganadoot triple murder case. 75-year-old editor Sushil Choudhury was alleged as the sole accused in the murder of three employees on the premises of the Bengali daily in Agartala on May 19. Investigating Officer Manash Paul said that a HC division bench of Chief Justice Deepak Gupta and Subhasis Talapatra on Thursday released Sushil Choudhury from jail who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in murder of his three employees 14 months ago. The court on Thursday found Choudhury acquitted of the triple murder under different sections of the Indian Penal Code and released him from the jail. It is to be mentioned here that the lower court earlier awarded life imprisonment till death to a newspaper editor-cum-owner in a year-old triple murder case. Kripankur Chakraborty, additional district and session’s judge of West Tripura district, also slapped a fine of Rs.70, 000 on 75-year-old Sushil Choudhury. The judge earlier awarded the rigorous life imprisonment till his death for murdering three of his employees May 19, 2013. The sources said that as the police failed to put up any appealing evidence against the accused, the prime accused Sushil Choudhury was released from jail. After carrying out in-depth investigation, Investigating Officer Manas Paul had submitted a 562-page charge sheet accusing Sushil Chowdhury for the gruesome incident before the Addl District and Sessions court. However, failing to prove any allegation against the accused the court has released him from jail.

The high court division bench of Chief Justice Deepak Gupta and Subhasis Talapatra released Sushil Chowdhury from jail who was sent to life term imprisonment by the lower court.The Judge had earlier on July 14 held 75-year-old Sushil Choudhury guilty of murder, conspiracy and abetment in murder of Dainik Ganadoot manager Ranjit Choudhury, proof reader Sujit Bhattacharjee and driver Balaram Ghosh.

The incident occurred on May 19, 2013. The court freed Niyati Ghosh, wife of slain driver, from charges of misleading investigation as she had turned approver in the case.

Reportedly, Sushil Choudhury took the help of his driver Balaram Ghosh to murder Ranjit Choudhury in the office. Following this, proof reader Sujit Bhattacharjee rushed out of his room and caught hold of the driver who was holding a knife. In the scuffle they stabbed each other and died in the presence of Sushil Choudhury who did nothing to stop the clash. The editor was allegedly involved in nefarious activities including brokering land deals. Ranjit Choudhury was targeted as he had vowed to expose him, say the reports.

This is one of the rarest-of-the-rare cases. Allegedly Choudhury was the main architect of the killing of three people and it was a pre-planned and tactful murder. Three employees of 'Danik Ganadoot', a vernacular daily were killed inside the newspaper office premises at Palace Compound in the heart of the city on May 19, 2013 sending shock waves across the entire state.