Full Breakdown
Milan Pradhan’s Bail and Legal Hurdles Ahead of the Nandigram By-poll
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Court Grants Interim Bail to Congress Candidate
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram Assembly by-poll, interim bail in all six criminal cases filed in 2007. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh ordered the bail to remain in effect until October 20 and required a bail bond of INR20,000 per case. Pradhan must surrender before the trial court on October 21, allowing him to campaign for the by-poll scheduled for October 6.
Background: 2007 Nandigram Land-Acquisition Agitation
All six cases stem from the 2007 anti-land-acquisition movement in Nandigram, where charges of murder, attempt to murder, abduction, house trespass, rioting with arms and related offences were lodged against Pradhan.
Timeline of Recent Judicial Actions
- Sept 18 – Pradhan arrested after Mamata Banerjee announced support.
- Sept 22 – State informed the court that five cases were withdrawn; one remains pending.
- Sept 23 – Contai court remanded Pradhan to judicial custody until Oct 7.
- Sept 29 – High Court granted interim bail.
- Oct 20 – Bail expires; surrender required by Oct 21.
Data & Statistics
- Six criminal cases, all from 2007.
- Bail bond: INR20,000 per case (total INR120,000).
- Judicial custody scheduled until Oct 7.
- Campaign ends Oct 4; voting Oct 6; results due Oct 9.
Official Statements & Responses
The bench noted the state had not produced material indicating Pradhan was wanted for an offence after 2007 and that the police had ample time to execute the warrants. Citing the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Arvind Kejriwal matter, the court emphasized a “holistic and libertarian view” and concluded Pradhan should be allowed to contest the election like any other candidate. The state opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charges, but the court found no legal basis to deny bail solely because the candidate was contesting an election.
Criticism & Opposition
West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar called the legal battle a fight for “honesty” and “respect for Congress,” asserting the arrest was intended to intimidate the party.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A bench of justice Tirthankar Ghosh granted interim bail to Pradhan till October 20 in all the six cases. He will now be able to campaign,” — Ajitesh Pandey, Pradhan’s advocate
- “All six cases against him have resulted in bail. He has been granted interim bail, which will remain valid until October 28, with certain conditions. There was strong opposition from the State, but our argument was that one of the cases was 19 years old and had arisen from a movement,” — Ashfak Ahmad, advocate
Parallel Legal Challenge: BJP Candidate’s Affidavit
The Congress petitioned against BJP candidate Hasirani Rath’s election affidavit, alleging a mismatch between her stated age (60-plus) and her Class 10 pass-out year (1965). The High Court dismissed the petition, noting the Election Commission had completed scrutiny on Sept 17 and that the alleged error did not constitute a material defect.
Why It Matters
The bail order directly affects Pradhan’s ability to campaign in a tightly contested by-poll following the withdrawal of the Trinamool-backed candidate and the alliance between Mamata Banerjee’s faction and Congress. The affidavit dispute underscores procedural tensions between opposition parties and the Election Commission.
What’s Next
Pradhan must apply for regular bail and surrender by Oct 21. The campaign concludes on Oct 4, after which voters will decide the seat on Oct 6. The outcome will test opposition unity and the impact of lingering legal challenges on West Bengal’s electoral dynamics.