The Calcutta High Court is scheduled to hear on September 22 a plea filed by Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll in West Bengal, seeking protection from coercive action in five additional criminal cases.
Pradhan is currently in judicial custody in connection with five other cases. His lawyer told the court that the present plea does not seek relief in those matters at this stage.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Calcutta High Court will hear Pradhan’s plea on September 22.
The plea concerns five additional criminal cases.
Pradhan is already in judicial custody in five other cases.
He was arrested on September 18 and subsequently shown as arrested in four more cases.
A Haldia court sent him to judicial custody until October 3.
The Nandigram Assembly bypoll is scheduled for October 6.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya allowed Pradhan’s lawyer to file the petition and directed that the matter be heard on September 22.
According to submissions made before the court, Pradhan was arrested on September 18 in connection with one case and was subsequently shown as arrested in four other cases. His lawyer said the five additional cases were disclosed in his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission and that protection was being sought in relation to those cases.
A court in Haldia, Purba Medinipur, sent Pradhan to judicial custody until October 3 following his arrest. Police have said the cases relate to alleged offences arising from the 2007 Nandigram anti-land-acquisition movement, including murder, attempt to murder, abduction with intent to murder, causing disappearance of evidence, house trespass and rioting with weapons.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The hearing is taking place ahead of the Nandigram Assembly bypoll. The petition concerns Pradhan’s request for protection from coercive action in five additional cases.
The Nandigram Assembly bypoll is scheduled for October 6, while the last day of campaigning is October 4.
