Bengal BDO Prashant Burman skips HC surrender deadline, moves Supreme Court
Synopsis
A suspended West Bengal BDO accused in the murder of a gold trader has defied the Calcutta High Court's 48-hour surrender deadline — for at least the second time this year — and instead rushed to the Supreme Court. With property attachment ordered and his salary halted, the case exposes glaring gaps in the state's ability to bring a serving government official to justice.
Key Takeaways
Prashant Burman , absconding BDO from Raiganj, North Dinajpur , missed the Calcutta High Court 's 48-hour surrender deadline set on 6 October .
Instead, Burman moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's order directing his surrender.
The High Court had ordered attachment of Burman's properties and suspension of his salary if he failed to comply.
Burman was named the principal accused in the alleged kidnapping and murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya of West Midnapore in October 2024 .
He had earlier defied a Supreme Court order in January directing him to surrender before a lower court.
The West Bengal CID had previously drawn judicial criticism for failing to locate Burman despite being tasked with doing so.
Absconding Block Development Officer (BDO) Prashant Burman from Raiganj in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal failed to comply with the Calcutta High Court's deadline to surrender within 48 hours of its 6 October order, instead approaching the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court's directive. Burman, who is an accused in the murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya, has remained absconding since the case came to light last year.
What the Calcutta High Court Ordered
On 6 October, a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court — headed by Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai — directed that steps be initiated for the attachment of Burman's properties unless he surrendered in connection with the murder of Kamilya. The bench also ordered the state government to stop payment of Burman's salary with immediate effect. Despite this, Burman chose to escalate the matter to the apex court rather than comply.
A Long Trail of Non-Compliance
This is not the first time Burman has defied a court's directive. In January this year, the Supreme Court had issued an order directing him to surrender before the lower court — an order he also failed to honour. He was subsequently arrested in a separate case involving alleged violations of road-safety rules, but was granted bail the very next day. The West Bengal government had earlier informed the High Court that Burman was untraceable, drawing sharp questions from the bench directed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over its failure to locate him.
The Murder Case: Background
In October 2024, Burman — then serving as the suspended BDO of Rajganj in Jalpaiguri district — was identified as the principal accused in the alleged kidnapping and murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya, a resident of West Midnapore. The incident reportedly took place in the Duttabad area of Salt Lake, Kolkata. Burman has remained at large since being named in the case, raising questions about both law enforcement effectiveness and the accountability of government officials facing serious criminal charges.
What Happens Next
With the matter now before the Supreme Court, the property attachment proceedings ordered by the Calcutta High Court are likely on hold pending the apex court's hearing. The case puts a spotlight on the CID's conduct and the state government's handling of an accused public servant who has repeatedly evaded judicial process. Legal observers note that Burman's move to the Supreme Court could delay, but is unlikely to permanently shield him from the surrender order. The next hearing at the apex court will be closely watched.
Point of View
And each time the system has found ways to let the matter drift. The CID's public admission that it cannot locate an accused who contested a bail condition and then violated it should embarrass any competent investigative agency. The Supreme Court gambit may buy Burman time, but it sharpens the constitutional question: can a state government credibly claim it cannot find one of its own officials?
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court order the attachment of Prashant Burman's properties?
The Calcutta High Court ordered attachment of Burman's properties on 6 October because he had not surrendered in connection with the murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya. The court gave him a 48-hour deadline to comply, which he missed by approaching the Supreme Court instead.
Who is Prashant Burman and what is he accused of?
Prashant Burman is a suspended Block Development Officer from West Bengal who was named the principal accused in the alleged kidnapping and murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya, a resident of West Midnapore, in October 2024. The incident reportedly occurred in the Duttabad area of Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Has Burman defied court orders before?
Yes. Earlier in January this year, the Supreme Court had directed Burman to surrender before a lower court, an order he also failed to obey. He was later briefly arrested in a separate road-safety case but was released on bail the following day.
What action has the state government taken against Burman?
The West Bengal government has suspended Burman from his post, and the Calcutta High Court on 6 October further directed the state to stop payment of his salary with immediate effect. The government had previously told the court that Burman was untraceable.
What happens now that the matter is before the Supreme Court?
The property attachment proceedings ordered by the Calcutta High Court are likely on hold pending the Supreme Court's hearing on Burman's challenge. Legal observers say the apex court's response to his petition will determine whether he can delay his surrender further or must comply shortly.
