Kolkata, Sept. 22 -- The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday declined to grant immediate protection to Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan in six old cases, but directed that no further steps be taken in those matters until October 9, two days after polling for the
October 6 bypoll.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya passed the direction while hearing Pradhan's plea seeking protection from coercive action. The state told the court that five of the six cases being challenged by Pradhan had been closed by the previous government and that he was not an accused in the remaining case.
Pradhan is presently in judicial custody in connection with five other cases and has sought bail separately in those matters. The cases relate to allegations arising from the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement.
During the hearing, the court orally observed, "Let him contest... provided he gets bail." Pradhan's counsel questioned the timing of the execution of warrants in cases dating back to 2007, pointing out that campaigning ends on October 4 and counting is scheduled for October 9.
The state, represented by Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar, said there were 11 cases against Pradhan and that he had been arrested in five. It submitted that warrants were being executed as part of the routine process during elections and that others facing warrants in the same cases had also been arrested.
The court directed that no steps be taken in the six cases until October 9 and listed the matter for further hearing on October 12.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.