The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order granting interim bail to Congress’ Nandigram bypoll candidate, Milan Pradhan, for electioneering.
The bench clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.
The top court noted that the bypoll to Nandigram assembly constituency took place on October 6. Votes will be counted on October 9. The high court also directed Pradhan to deposit Rs 20,000 bail bond in each of the six criminal cases for which he was arrested. The high court had in April 2007 ordered a CBI investigation into the death of 14 people in police firing at Nandigram. Pradhan’s lawyer had stated before the high court that the Congress candidate was arrested after filing his nomination for the Nandigram bypoll on September 15. The trial court at Kanthi had remanded him to judicial custody in one of the cases till October 7.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, however, allowed the West Bengal government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to raise its contentions before the high court if Pradhan seeks extension of the grant of interim bail in criminal cases pending against him.
