Allow Congress Candidate to Contest the Nandigram by-Election: Calcutta HC to State
The court said police had not disclosed the Khejuri case earlier and barred any action against the Congress candidate until Oct. 12.
- On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court ruled that Congress candidate Milan Pradhan cannot be treated as arrested in a 2007 Khejuri case, directing police to allow him to contest the October 6 Nandigram bypoll.
- These charges stem from 2007 anti-land acquisition protests in Nandigram and Khejuri, which were reinstated in 2021 following a Public Interest Litigation after having been previously withdrawn.
- Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya questioned why the state failed to disclose this case during the September 22 hearing, noting it was "surprising" the police sought arrest after officials claimed no other matters were pending.
- The court directed police to take no coercive action against Pradhan until October 12, though the West Bengal government has challenged this ruling before a division bench hearing on Friday.
- Serving as an electoral test for the ruling BJP, the Nandigram bypoll on October 6 features support from Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress faction for Pradhan, who remains in judicial custody until October 7.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Allow Congress candidate to contest the Nandigram by-election: Calcutta HC to state
Milan Pradhan, the candidate, was arrested on September 18 in connection with a 2007 murder case and later shown arrested in five other cases, all registered in the same year
Arpita Pradhan, wife of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in the Nandigram by-election, has accused Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of abusing his power over her husband's arrest. Since Milan Pradhan is in jail and unable to campaign, his wife will campaign.
Calcutta High Court clears arrested Congress candidate to contest Nandigram bypoll
The Calcutta High Court said Milan Pradhan must be allowed to contest the Nandigram bypoll and cannot be treated as arrested in a 2007 Khejuri case for now. The order questions the state's late move in an old case and protects his campaign during the crucial final stretch.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium












