Kolkata: “Law is same for all,” Calcutta High Court observed on Friday, setting aside

Milan Pradhan

The single bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya had granted protection to Pradhan till Oct 12 and ordered that he would not be treated as arrested in a Khejuri police station case from 2007, where Pradhan was arrested. A court in East Midnapore remanded him in judicial custody till Oct 7.

Pradhan was arrested in different cases and on Sept 22, Justice Bhattacharyya had not interfered with his protection plea in six other cases, noting the state’s submission that five cases were closed and in one he was “not warranted”.

Because he was contesting elections, it could not be done as there was no provision in criminal law for such interim protection to an accused, the bench said, but just. The court observed that an accused had the liberty to seek bail after arrest and could apply for anticipatory bail on apprehension of arrest.

On Sept 23, Pradhan’s counsel informed the court that he had been picked up in yet another case, which they claim they were unaware of.

Kolkata: “Law is same for all,” Calcutta High Court observed on Friday, setting aside the relief granted to Congress ’s Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan from coercive action in a 2007 criminal case. Justice Bhattacharyya on Thursday said “it was not brought to the notice of the court” and told additional advocate general Rajdeep Mazumder: “On Sept 22, HC passed an order… based on submissions by none other than the AAG. Expressing surprise at the single judge’s order, Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge also questioned under what law was Pradhan granted protection when he should have approached for bail. A division bench of CJ Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai clarified that Pradhan would have to follow the regular legal process of seeking bail rather than relying on the protection granted by the single judge. Now, to show respect to the court, if any other cases are pending like what has surfaced, don’t take any steps. ”