SC agrees to hear on Oct 5 West Bengal's plea challenging interim bail to Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on October 5 the West Bengal government's plea challenging the interim bail granted to Congress' Nandigram bypoll candidate, Milan Pradhan, in six criminal cases lodged in 2007.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.

"He is granted interim bail for elections," Mehta told the bench, while urging it to list the matter.


The CJI said the plea would be heard on October 5.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Pradhan till October 20, allowing him to campaign for the October 6 bypoll to the Nandigram seat, vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who has opted to retain Bhabanipur, which he had also won in the state polls earlier this year.

It also directed Pradhan to surrender before the trial court on October 21.

All these criminal cases on charges such as murder and attempt to murder, and for violation of the Arms Act provisions, were filed against Pradhan in 2007 during the Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement.