Milan Pradhan
Nandigram: Calcutta High Court is likely to hear a plea by jailed Nandigram bypoll’s Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, in which he has challenged his arrest and requested that six pending criminal cases against him — dating back to 2007 — not be pressed until counting of votes on Oct 9. Pradhan moved HC on the same day a Haldia court remanded him in fresh 14-day judicial custody. His custody is set to end on Oct 5, a day before polling, threatening to keep him out of the entire campaign phase, which concludes on Oct 4. There are numerous accused in the 2007 cases. “Over the past 19 years, Milan has been present at polling booths during every election and regularly visited the area, yet the police never summoned him regarding any 2007 land movement case. Khejuri Police presented an arrest warrant in a Contai court regarding a 2007 Arms Act case. On Sunday, Nandigram Police submitted another warrant in a Haldia court related to a separate 2007 land movement case. The Contai court directed that Pradhan be produced again on Sept 23, while the Haldia court ordered his production on Oct 5. His lawyer, Ayan Bhattacharjee, said in court that the Congress candidate was arrested on Sept 18 in connection with a case and subsequently shown arrested in four additional cases.
In an emotional social media appeal, she said: “Milan will not quit. He will fight from jail. Why was Milan selectively targeted? The police became active only after he filed his nomination as the Congress candidate. People can see what is happening now, and I appeal to voters of Nandigram to give a fitting reply through the ballot box,” she added. Congress lawyers were present at both courts.
Earlier, in HC, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya granted permission to Pradhan’s lawyer to file a petition seeking protection from coercive action in the additional criminal cases registered against him. Hearings for both cases took place on Monday, with Pradhan appearing virtually from jail before both courts. The court said it would hear Pradhan’s application on Tuesday.