Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Fadnavis Tells Rahul Gandhi to Examine Himself Over Arrest
Milan Pradhan is a Congress candidate in an election in Nandigram, West Bengal.
Police arrested him before the bypoll.
Police said the arrest involved old cases connected to protests over land acquisition.
They also said there was a pending warrant.
Rahul Gandhi said the arrest was unfair political revenge.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis disagreed with Gandhi.
Fadnavis said people accused of crimes should not be excused because they are Congress leaders.
The report gives two figures for Pradhan’s cases: at least four cases cited by police and more than 12 cases mentioned elsewhere.
Rahul Gandhi called the arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan “political revenge” and “the murder of democracy.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected Gandhi’s criticism and said he should “examine himself first.”
West Bengal police said Pradhan was arrested in connection with at least four cases involving rioting, murder and criminal intimidation.
The arrest was linked to a pending warrant and occurred ahead of the October 6 Nandigram bypoll.
The report also says Pradhan had been named in more than 12 cases connected to the Nandigram land movement.
- Who
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, Rahul Gandhi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are the main figures mentioned; West Bengal police carried out the arrest.
- What
- Pradhan was arrested, prompting Gandhi to accuse the BJP of political revenge and Fadnavis to defend the arrest.
- When
- Gandhi made his comments on Friday, and Fadnavis responded on Saturday, ahead of the October 6 Nandigram bypoll.
- Where
- Pradhan was arrested at a hotel in Chandipur, in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal.
- Why
- Police said the arrest was linked to a pending warrant and cases involving rioting, murder and criminal intimidation during the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement.
Criticism of the Arrest
Defense of the Arrest
Political motivation
Criticism of the Arrest
Rahul Gandhi said the arrest was political revenge and amounted to the murder of democracy.
Defense of the Arrest
Devendra Fadnavis rejected that characterization and questioned why a candidate should be exempted from arrest because he is a Congress leader.
Legal basis
Criticism of the Arrest
Gandhi’s comments focused on the arrest’s timing before the Nandigram bypoll and portrayed it as politically motivated.
Defense of the Arrest
West Bengal police said the arrest was connected to a pending warrant and cases involving rioting, murder and criminal intimidation.
- Arrested candidate
- Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram bypoll
- Arrest location
- A hotel in Chandipur, Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal
- Police explanation
- The arrest was linked to a pending warrant and multiple criminal cases
- Alleged offenses
- Rioting, murder and criminal intimidation
- Election date
- October 6 Nandigram bypoll
- Gandhi’s description
- “Political revenge” and “the murder of democracy”
- Case-count discrepancy
- Police cited at least four related cases, while the report said Pradhan had been named in more than 12 cases