Supreme Court
The bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu noted that the warrants and proclamations upheld by the high court would revive should Mondal fail to return by Nov 17. Reiterating Mondal’s intent to return subject to safeguards, Rohatgi contended that the West Bengal Police were acting out of political motives. “He is not Dawood Ibrahim. He is conducting legitimate business in Dubai with money transferred from Indian bank accounts,” Rohatgi argued.
Kolkata: Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Md Nazibuddin Mondal alias Tulu Mondal — accused in the Birbhum illegal sand mining case — to return to India from Dubai by Nov 17 to face questioning, granting him protection from arrest for three weeks from the date of his arrival.
Appearing for Mondal, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi submitted that his client “is willing to return to India and join the investigation provided he is granted reasonable time and protection to pursue remedy, available to him in law, for securing his liberty.”
A Birbhum district court and the Calcutta High Court had earlier refused to grant him interim protection against coercive steps.