Calcutta High Court grants interim bail to Congress Nandigram candidate Milan Pradhan in 2007 cases, allowing him to campaign before the October 6 bypoll.
The Calcutta High Court has granted interim bail to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in connection with criminal cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram agitation, allowing him to participate in the upcoming by-election campaign.
The Calcutta High Court has granted interim bail to Congress’ Nandigram by-poll candidate Milan Pradhan, providing him temporary relief from custody ahead of the October 6 Assembly by-election.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh passed the order while considering Pradhan’s plea seeking interim bail so that he could contest and campaign in the Nandigram bypoll. The relief comes against the backdrop of several criminal cases registered during the 2007 Nandigram agitation.
According to the latest report, Pradhan has been permitted to remain out of custody until October 20 and has been directed to appear before the court and surrender on October 21.
Cases Date Back To 2007 Nandigram Agitation
Pradhan was arrested in September in connection with cases arising from the agitation against land acquisition in Nandigram in 2007. The cases include allegations relating to murder, attempt to murder, unlawful assembly and other offences.
Reports indicate that several cases were registered at Nandigram and Khejuri police stations during the period of the agitation. The cases remained pending for several years before action was taken against Pradhan in the run-up to the by-election.
Pradhan’s legal team approached the High Court after he was taken into custody, contending that his arrest had come at a crucial stage of the electoral process. His lawyers sought temporary release so that he could participate personally in the election campaign.
The State, on the other hand, opposed the relief and relied upon the pending criminal proceedings and warrants issued in connection with the old cases. The State has maintained that the legal process was being carried out in accordance with existing orders and that the cases were not instituted afresh for the by-election.
Relief Comes Ahead Of October 6 Poll
The timing of the bail plea assumed significance because the Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with campaigning ending before polling day.
Pradhan’s arrest had created a legal hurdle for his participation in the campaign. Although an arrest by itself does not automatically disqualify a person from contesting an election, continued custody could prevent a candidate from personally campaigning.
The High Court’s interim order therefore enables Pradhan to participate in the electoral process while the underlying criminal proceedings continue.
The development follows a series of proceedings before different benches of the High Court concerning the cases pending against Pradhan. On September 25, a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge had set aside an earlier order granting him protection from coercive action in one of the 2007 cases, observing that an accused already in custody must pursue the appropriate bail remedy.
Court To Consider Criminal Cases Separately
The interim bail does not bring the underlying criminal cases to an end. The allegations against Pradhan will continue to be dealt with in accordance with law, and the present relief is limited to his temporary release.
The High Court’s order thus addresses the immediate issue of his participation in the election while leaving the merits of the criminal proceedings open for adjudication.
The case has attracted considerable attention because of the age of the proceedings and their connection with the politically significant 2007 Nandigram agitation. The competing submissions of Pradhan and the State remain matters for the court to consider in the ongoing proceedings.
With the October 6 by-election approaching, the interim bail order allows the Congress candidate to return to the campaign temporarily, subject to the conditions imposed by the High Court and his direction to surrender before the court on October 21.
The development can be followed through [The Legal Observer’s latest national legal news coverage] and its continuing updates on significant court proceedings.
