Calcutta HC sets aside relief to Congress Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan

Kolkata: A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday set aside a previous single-bench order granting relief to Congress' Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan from coercive action in connection with a 2007 criminal case and directed him to apply for regular bail instead.

The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai, held that there was no provision in criminal law for granting such interim protection to an accused. The bench observed that the law is equal for everyone and cannot be different for a person contesting an election. The court said an accused has the liberty to seek bail after arrest and can also apply for anticipatory bail. Pradhan will remain in judicial remand till October 7, as directed by the Contai ACJM court.

Pradhan was arrested by Purba Medinipur district police on September 18. The Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with campaigning ending on October 4 and counting scheduled for October 9.