Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Nandigram Congress Candidate Sent to Custody Amid Bypoll Row
Milan Pradhan is the Congress candidate in an election in Nandigram.
Police arrested him over old criminal cases from 2007.
A court ordered him to stay in custody until October 3.
The cases include serious accusations such as murder, rioting and attempted murder.
Police said there were four arrest warrants and that Pradhan had been difficult to locate for 19 years.
His lawyer said three warrants concerned Nandigram police cases and another concerned a Khejuri police case.
Congress and Mamata Banerjee’s political faction said the timing suggested the arrest was meant to hurt their election campaign.
The BJP and police said the arrest was a lawful action on existing criminal cases and long-pending warrants.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was remanded to judicial custody until October 3 after his arrest in West Bengal.
Police cited four pending non-bailable warrants linked to cases from the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement.
The allegations include murder, attempted murder, rioting, kidnapping or abduction, criminal intimidation and Arms Act violations.
Because campaigning ends October 4 and voting is scheduled for October 6, Pradhan will miss the final campaign days.
Congress and Mamata Banerjee’s faction alleged political targeting, while the BJP and police said the arrest enforced long-pending warrants.
- Who
- Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, was arrested by West Bengal Police.
- What
- A local court remanded Pradhan to judicial custody until October 3 over four pending warrants and related criminal cases.
- When
- He was arrested on Friday and produced in court on September 19; voting is scheduled for October 6 and campaigning ends October 4.
- Where
- The case was heard at the Haldia Subdivisional Court and involves cases registered with Nandigram and Khejuri police stations in West Bengal.
- Why
- Police said the arrest was based on long-pending non-bailable warrants, while Congress and Mamata Banerjee’s faction alleged political targeting before the bypoll.
Political Targeting Allegation
Pending Warrant Enforcement
Reason for arrest
Political Targeting Allegation
Congress and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress faction said an old case was being used to target the opposition before the Nandigram bypoll.
Pending Warrant Enforcement
The BJP and West Bengal Police said Pradhan was arrested in connection with existing criminal cases and four long-pending non-bailable warrants.
Timing of police action
Political Targeting Allegation
Opposition leaders questioned why the arrest occurred shortly after Mamata Banerjee announced support for Pradhan.
Pending Warrant Enforcement
Police said Pradhan had been absconding since 2007, repeated attempts to execute the warrants had failed, and the arrest followed his eventual location during an election-related special drive.
Effect on the election
Political Targeting Allegation
Congress leaders said the arrest removes their candidate from the campaign during the final days before voting.
Pending Warrant Enforcement
The police described the arrest as compliance with instructions to execute long-pending warrants during elections, rather than an electoral intervention.
- Accused
- Milan Pradhan
- Court order
- Judicial custody until October 3, described by counsel as 14 days
- Arrest warrants
- Four pending warrants; three linked to Nandigram police cases and one to Khejuri police cases
- Case period
- Cases date to the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram
- Allegations
- Reports cite murder, attempted murder, rioting, kidnapping or abduction, criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence, house trespass and Arms Act violations
- Election schedule
- Campaigning ends October 4 and voting takes place October 6
- Political dispute
- Congress and Mamata Banerjee’s faction alleged targeting; the BJP and police said the arrest concerned pending cases and warrant enforcement
Sources
Bengal: Cong’s Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan sent to judicial custody till Oct 3
Congress' Nandigram Bypoll Pick Milan Pradhan Sent To Judicial Custody Till October 3
Cong’s Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan sent to judicial custody till Oct 3
Cong's Nandigram candidate sent to 14-day custody in 19-yr-old case