Calcutta HC grants interim bail to Congress' Nandigram candidate Milan Pradhan
Calcutta High Court grants interim bail to Congress Nandigram candidate Milan Pradhan in six cases, amid allegations of political vendetta.
In a significant legal development, the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram by-election. The court's decision covers all six criminal cases currently registered against him in the Nandigram and Khejuri areas.
The interim bail is set to remain valid until October 28, subject to specific conditions laid down by the court. This ruling comes at a critical juncture for the Nandigram Assembly by-election, as Pradhan had been unable to campaign due to his incarceration.
Legal Battle and Allegations of Political Vendetta
The legal proceedings saw intense debate between the defence and the State. Advocate Ashfak Ahmad, representing Pradhan, noted that while the State strongly opposed the bail plea, the defence highlighted the nature of the charges. Notably, one of the cases dates back 19 years and is linked to the historic Nandigram movement.
The defence team raised serious allegations regarding the timing of these legal actions. According to Ahmad, the decision to pursue these cases—particularly the decades-old one—was a calculated move to hinder Pradhan's election campaign. "The government is afraid of Congress," Ahmad alleged, suggesting that the administration sought to intimidate the candidate to prevent him from exposing potential "vote theft."
The lawyer further argued that the selective nature of the police action pointed toward political targeting. He pointed out that while others associated with the same movement, including leaders from the BJP and even the current Chief Minister, were named in similar instances, action was only being taken against Pradhan after nearly two decades.
"Honesty Has Won," says West Bengal Congress
Following the court's decision, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Subhankar Sarkar hailed the verdict as a victory for truth and the legal system. "Honesty has won," Sarkar told reporters, describing the situation as a fight against injustice directed at the Congress party.
Sarkar emphasized that the arrest of Pradhan following his nomination as a Congress candidate was an attempt to stifle democratic processes. He asserted that despite the legal hurdles, the party remains committed to contesting free and fair elections and expressed confidence that Pradhan would be unbeatable in the upcoming by-election.
A Family's Fight on the Campaign Trail
While Milan Pradhan remained in custody prior to this ruling, his wife, Arpita Pradhan, had taken up the mantle of campaigning. Speaking to supporters, she expressed her distress over her husband's imprisonment, which she characterized as being based on fabricated charges.
Arpita Pradhan highlighted her husband's long-standing loyalty to the Congress party, dating back to his college years. She also reminded voters of his active role in the land eviction agitations in Nandigram, claiming he was unfairly implicated in cases during those protests. "Since my husband is in jail, I consider it my duty to stand by him and campaign on his behalf," she stated.