Kolkata, September 24: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted bail to Congress candidate from Nandigram, Milan Pradhan, in connection with a case registered at Khejuri Police Station, providing relief in a matter in which police had formally recorded his arrest a day earlier.
The court directed that Pradhan should not be taken into custody in the specific case, identified as Khejuri Police Station Case No. 45. However, hearings in five other cases pending against the Congress leader before the Calcutta High Court are yet to be completed.
Kolkata Police arrested Pradhan on September 18 on the basis of four long-pending non-bailable warrants issued by courts in connection with cases dating back to 2007. According to police, he was arrested within the jurisdiction of Chandipur Police Station during a special drive to execute long-pending warrants.
Kolkata Police said the drive was being carried out in accordance with standing instructions of the Election Commission of India concerning elections and bye-elections.
According to the police, Pradhan, son of Prabir Pradhan alias Probodh Pradhan and a resident of Gangra village under Nandigram Police Station in Purba Medinipur district, had been absconding and allegedly evading the legal process for nearly 19 years.
Police said the cases against him involve charges including murder, attempt to murder, abduction with intent to murder, disappearance of evidence, house trespass and rioting involving arms and deadly weapons.
The cases cited by police include a Nandigram Police Station case dated April 30, 2007, registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 448, 302 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Section 27 of the Arms Act.
Another Nandigram Police Station case, dated November 15, 2007, was registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 326, 364, 302 and 201 of the IPC.
Police registered a third case, dated November 8, 2007, under Sections 147, 148, 149, 324, 307, and 302 of the IPC, along with Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. Police also referred to Khejuri Police Station Case No. 44/07, dated July 30, 2007, registered under Sections 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25 and 35 of the Arms Act.
Kolkata Police said repeated attempts to execute the warrants had failed in the past and that Non-Execution Reports had been submitted before the concerned courts from time to time.
“Execution of long-pending non-bailable warrants is a standing instruction of the Election Commission of India in respect of all elections/bye-elections,” the police said, adding that Pradhan’s arrest was a lawful step taken during the ongoing special drive.
The arrest has assumed political significance as it came ahead of the bye-election to the 210-Nandigram Assembly constituency, where Pradhan is contesting as the Congress candidate.
The Congress has questioned the timing of the arrest, pointing out that the cases date back to 2007. West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar said the party was initially unclear about the reason for Pradhan’s arrest and his whereabouts. Congress leaders have also alleged that the action was politically motivated.
The BJP has rejected the allegations of political interference and maintained that the police action was carried out in accordance with the law. A police officer cited in reports said the arrest was linked to a pending warrant in a 2007 murder case and that such warrants are executed irrespective of elections.
The Nandigram Assembly bye-election is scheduled to be held on October 6, while counting of votes is scheduled for October 9.
