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Nandigram Bypoll Court Custody Halts Congress Candidate’s Campaign
Milan Pradhan is the Congress candidate in the Nandigram by-election.
A court ordered him to remain in custody until October 7.
Voting is scheduled for October 6, and campaigning ends on October 4.
This means he cannot campaign in person before voting.
The cases against him come from protests and violence in 2007.
Police say they acted on old, pending arrest warrants.
Congress says the timing looks political because the arrests happened after he became the candidate.
A higher court will consider his request on September 24.
A Contai court remanded Congress candidate Milan Pradhan to judicial custody until October 7 in a 2007 murder case.
The custody order effectively prevents Pradhan from campaigning before canvassing ends on October 4.
Pradhan was already in custody over an Arms Act case and four other pending warrants linked to 2007 cases.
The Calcutta High Court will hear his plea on September 24 and had said he should be allowed to campaign if granted bail.
Congress alleged that police revived old cases to disrupt the campaign, while police cited pending non-bailable warrants.
- Who
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, the police, the Contai court, and the Calcutta High Court are central to the case.
- What
- Pradhan was remanded to judicial custody until October 7 in a 2007 murder and other criminal case, limiting his Nandigram bypoll campaign.
- Where
- The proceedings involve the Contai court and the Calcutta High Court in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district; the case was registered at Khejuri police station.
- When
- The latest custody order was issued on Wednesday; voting is scheduled for October 6 and campaigning ends October 4. The High Court will hear his plea on September 24.
- Why
- The court acted on a prosecution request related to a 2007 case, while police said the arrest was based on pending non-bailable warrants. Congress alleged the timing was intended to disrupt his campaign.
Congress allegations
Police and prosecution position
Timing of the arrests
Congress allegations
Congress said old cases were revived at a politically sensitive time to prevent Pradhan from campaigning, and questioned why the warrants had not been executed earlier.
Police and prosecution position
Police said Pradhan was arrested on the basis of pending non-bailable warrants in cases dating to 2007.
Effect on the election
Congress allegations
Congress argued that Pradhan had completed nomination and scrutiny and should be able to contest and campaign; its local youth leader said campaigning would continue despite his absence.
Police and prosecution position
The court ordered custody through October 7, while the High Court said he could contest properly if he secured bail in the cases in which he had been arrested.
Legal status of the cases
Congress allegations
Pradhan’s lawyers sought bail and told the High Court that the state had not mentioned the latest case during the previous hearing.
Police and prosecution position
The prosecution sought custody over the murder charge, and the state told the High Court that five other cases had been withdrawn by the previous government and that Pradhan was not wanted in a sixth case.
Key facts
- Candidate
- Milan Pradhan of the Congress
- Custody period
- Until October 7, the day after voting
- Bypoll date
- October 6
- Campaign deadline
- October 4
- Main allegations
- Murder and other offences connected to 2007 cases
- Earlier custody
- An Arms Act case and four other pending non-bailable warrants
- Next court hearing
- Calcutta High Court hearing scheduled for September 24
- Political context
- The bypoll followed Suvendu Adhikari’s decision to vacate Nandigram and retain Bhabanipur
Sources
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