Calcutta HC Grants Interim Bail to Cong's Nandigram Bypoll Candidate in Six Cases

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Congress' Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan in six criminal cases registered against him in 2007, allowing him to campaign for the October 6 Assembly bypoll.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh granted Pradhan relief till October 20 and directed him to surrender before the trial court on October 21. The court also directed Pradhan to furnish a Rs 20,000 bail bond in each of the six cases in which he was arrested.

The cases, registered during the Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement in 2007, include charges of murder, attempt to murder and violations of provisions of the Arms Act.

Pradhan's interim bail comes ahead of the October 6 bypoll, with campaigning scheduled to end on October 4. The counting of votes will take place on October 9.

The Nandigram Assembly seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari decided to retain Bhabanipur, another constituency he had won in the state Assembly elections earlier this year.

The Congress has fielded Pradhan from Nandigram for the bypoll. His arrest in connection with the six cases had raised concerns over his ability to participate in the election campaign. With the High Court's interim order, Pradhan can now campaign until the stipulated period, subject to the conditions imposed by the court.

The six cases relate to incidents during the agitation against a proposed land acquisition in Nandigram in 2007. The movement had witnessed violence and clashes between opposing groups, making the constituency a politically significant centre in West Bengal.

The High Court's order provides temporary relief to Pradhan, while the underlying criminal proceedings will continue before the trial court. Pradhan will have to surrender before the trial court on October 21, a day after the interim bail period expires.

The October 6 contest is being closely watched as the Nandigram seat was earlier represented by Adhikari, who has since retained Bhabanipur.