High Court Grants Interim Relief for Campaign Period
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Congress party candidate Milan Pradhan for a period of three weeks. The relief covers all six criminal cases filed against him, allowing the Nandigram bypoll candidate to campaign freely during the election period.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh issued the order, directing Pradhan to surrender before the trial court on October 21. As part of the bail conditions, the judge ordered Pradhan to deposit a bail bond of Rs 20,000 in each of the six criminal cases for which he was previously arrested.
The interim relief is effective until October 20. This timeline aligns with the schedule for the Nandigram Assembly seat bypoll, which is set to take place on October 6. Campaigning for the election is scheduled to conclude on October 4, with the results to be declared on October 9.
Origin of Criminal Cases Linked to 2007 Movement
The six criminal cases against Pradhan stem from events that occurred nearly two decades ago. According to reports, the charges were filed in 2007 during the Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement.
The cases include serious allegations such as murder and attempt to murder, as well as violations of provisions under the Arms Act. These legal proceedings have remained active against Pradhan since that period, necessitating the current interim bail arrangement to facilitate his participation in the upcoming election.
Context of the Nandigram Bypoll
The bypoll for the Nandigram Assembly seat was triggered after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari vacated the constituency. Adhikari opted to retain his seat in Bhabanipur, which he had won in the state polls earlier this year.
Pradhan is contesting the Nandigram seat as the Congress party candidate. The interim bail granted by the high court ensures that his legal obligations do not prevent him from engaging with voters during the critical weeks leading up to the October 6 election date.