8 hrs ago
Calcutta High Court Restricts New Cases Against Nandigram Candidate
Milan Pradhan is the Congress candidate in the Nandigram election.
He is also in jail because of criminal cases from 2007.
The Calcutta High Court said police cannot register a new case against him or show him as arrested in a new case until October 12.
This order does not cancel the two cases for which he is already in custody.
The judge also verbally asked the state to let Pradhan contest the October 6 election.
The state said it was acting on old arrest warrants and that the cases involve very serious accusations.
Pradhan’s lawyer said the state had not properly shown a warrant in one of the cases.
Pradhan’s arrest and custody have become an important issue in the election campaign.
The Calcutta High Court barred West Bengal Police from registering new cases or showing Milan Pradhan as arrested in new cases until October 12.
The order excludes two cases in which Pradhan was already in judicial custody, though reports differed on the custody end dates.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya verbally asked the state to allow Pradhan to contest the October 6 Nandigram bypoll.
The state said Pradhan faced long-standing non-bailable warrants and serious charges, including murder and attempted murder.
Pradhan was arrested on September 18 after the Congress named him its candidate, and he has filed bail applications in four cases.
- Who
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, the Calcutta High Court, West Bengal Police and the state government are central to the matter.
- What
- The High Court restricted police from registering or pursuing any new case against Pradhan until October 12 and verbally asked the state to let him contest the Nandigram bypoll.
- Where
- The legal cases concern Nandigram and Khejuri police stations in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal; the election is in Nandigram.
- When
- The order was issued on Thursday; the bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with results due October 9 and campaigning ending October 4.
- Why
- The court questioned Pradhan being shown arrested in an additional 2007 case after the state had earlier disclosed five pending cases and said he was not wanted in another case.
Pradhan and his legal team
State government and prosecution
New arrest in the Khejuri case
Pradhan and his legal team
Pradhan’s lawyer said he was unaware of the Khejuri police station case and argued that the state had not disclosed the production warrant during the earlier hearing.
State government and prosecution
The state said the Contai ACJM court issued a production warrant on September 19 and that Pradhan faced murder and attempted-murder charges in the case.
Timing of the arrest
Pradhan and his legal team
Pradhan’s wife questioned why he was arrested soon after the Congress announced his candidacy, saying he had not been arrested for many years despite regularly visiting the area.
State government and prosecution
The state said Pradhan was arrested as part of instructions to execute all long-standing non-bailable arrest warrants before the bypolls.
Restored criminal cases
Pradhan and his legal team
Pradhan’s side sought protection from further action and challenged the disclosure and handling of the additional case.
State government and prosecution
The state said six cases in which Pradhan had been arrested were withdrawn in 2020 but reinstated in 2021 after a High Court order following a public-interest litigation petition.
Key facts
- Candidate
- Milan Pradhan, Congress candidate for Nandigram
- High Court restriction
- Police cannot register a new case against Pradhan or show him as arrested in a new case until October 12
- Existing custody
- The restriction does not cover two cases in which Pradhan was already in judicial custody
- Election
- Nandigram bypoll on October 6; results on October 9
- Arrest
- Pradhan was arrested on September 18
- Charges cited
- Murder, attempted murder, abduction with intent to murder, disappearance of evidence, house trespass, rioting with arms and Arms Act offences
- Legal status
- Pradhan has filed bail applications in four criminal cases
Quotes
Arpita Pradhan
Wife of Congress’s Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan
“My husband was arrested immediately after the Congress announced his name as the party candidate. He used to go to vote regularly and used to stay in the area during the festival times. He was not arrested for so long. Now, why was he arrested after the Congress named him as the bypoll candidate?”
thehansindia.com
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya
Calcutta High Court judge hearing Milan Pradhan’s petition
“It is surprising to note that the said criminal prosecution is of 2007 and the investigating officer made a prayer for treating the petitioner as 'shown arrest' on September 19”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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