Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Former CPI(M) Legislator Srutinath Praharaj Granted Bail in Hooghly
Srutinath Praharaj is a former elected representative from Uttarpara in West Bengal.
Police arrested him after a protest in Chinsurah.
The protest was organized by CPI(M)-linked activists on August 10.
Police said some protesters broke through barricades and caused trouble.
Police also accused Praharaj and two others of blocking officers and hurting police personnel.
Officers used batons to disperse the protesters.
Several activists and two police personnel were injured.
A court in Hooghly granted Praharaj and the two activists bail.
CPI(M) leaders said the arrest was politically motivated, while police presented it as a response to alleged offences.
Former Uttarpara CPI(M) legislator Srutinath Praharaj was granted bail by a Hooghly district court on Tuesday.
Police arrested Praharaj and two CPI(M) activists over a mass disobedience movement in Chinsurah on August 10.
Police charged them with obstructing official duties, creating a disturbance and assaulting police personnel.
Protesters had tried to breach police barricades while moving toward the District Magistrate’s office, prompting a baton charge.
CPI(M) district secretary Debabrata Ghosh alleged that Praharaj’s arrest was politically motivated and based on false accusations.
- Who
- Former CPI(M) legislator Srutinath Praharaj and activists Dipak Chkaraborty and Anupam Chakraborty were arrested; CPI(M) district secretary Debabrata Ghosh criticized the arrests.
- What
- Praharaj and the two activists were granted bail after being arrested over a protest-related case.
- When
- The movement took place on August 10; police arrested Praharaj and the two activists on Monday, and they received bail on Tuesday.
- Where
- The protest and arrests were connected to Chinsurah in Hooghly district, West Bengal.
- Why
- Police alleged that the activists obstructed police duties, created a disturbance and assaulted police personnel; CPI(M) alleged political vendetta.
CPI(M) Position
Police Position
Reason for arrest
CPI(M) Position
CPI(M) district secretary Debabrata Ghosh described Praharaj’s arrest as political vendetta and said the accusations were false.
Police Position
Police said Praharaj and the other activists were arrested in connection with alleged obstruction, disturbance and assault during the movement.
Events at the protest
CPI(M) Position
The article reports that CPI(M) activists were participating in a mass disobedience movement aimed at reaching the District Magistrate’s office.
Police Position
Police said protesters broke through barricades, tried to advance and created a disturbance, leading officers to disperse them with batons.
- Accused
- Srutinath Praharaj, Dipak Chkaraborty and Anupam Chakraborty
- Court outcome
- A district court in Hooghly granted all three bail on Tuesday.
- Protest date
- August 10
- Protest location
- Chinsurah, Hooghly district
- Police action
- Police dispersed protesters with a baton charge after they tried to breach barricades.
- Injuries
- Several CPI(M) activists and two police personnel were injured.
- Detentions
- Police detained more than 40 CPI(M) activists on August 10 and later arrested four that night.