Guwahati, Aug. 11: The family of Parag Das has decided to move Gauhati High Court against the verdict acquitting the lone surviving accused in the murder of the human rights activist and journalist.

Pallab Das, brother of Parag, told The Telegraph today that he would file a criminal revision petition this month. He said the family had approached senior advocate Anil Kumar Bhattacharyya and discussed the case in the high court.

“The verdict of the district and sessions court, Kamrup, on my brother’s murder was a major setback for us. My mother is suffering from mental and emotional trauma following the verdict. We do not know what is in store for us in Gauhati High Court. The family is hoping against hope and decided to approach the high court,” he said.

On July 28, the Kamrup district and sessions judge, Dilip Kumar Mahanta acquitted Mridul Phukan, the lone surviving accused in the murder case, for want of evidence. The court pulled up the CBI for inefficient investigation into the murder.

Das hoped the CBI would also file a petition in the high court against the lower court’s verdict.

“If the investigating agency files a petition, the case will be stronger,” he said.

“I am studying the case and will file the petition in due course. The family has the right to challenge the verdict of the Kamrup district and sessions judge even though it was not a party when the murder case was fought in the lower court,” advocate Bhattacharyya said.