The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday told the West Bengal government to let Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan contest the election, as it heard his plea seeking protection from coercive action in cases pending against him.
The court recorded the state's submission that five of the six cases challenged by Pradhan had been closed and that he was not an accused in the remaining case, which relates to developments dating back to 2007.
While hearing the plea, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya recorded that there are 11 total cases against Pradhan. Currently, Pradhan is in police custody in connection with five other cases and has sought bail. He has sought bail in those cases separately.
When the issue of Pradhan's participation in the election came up, the Court orally remarked to the state: “Let him contest...Provided he gets bail."
It is a "textbook example of subversion of democracy," said senior advocate Ayan Bhattacharjee appearing for Pradhan. He urged the court to direct disclosure of any other proceedings pending against Pradhan and submitted that he would seek bail in the five cases active against him.
Bhattacharjee also questioned the timing of the warrants' execution and called for scrutiny.
Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for October 6, and the campaigning ends on October 4. The counting is scheduled for October 9.
The court observed that all the cases dated back to 2007 and directed that no steps be taken against Pradhan until October 9.
Meanwhile, Congress has hit the streets for campaigning. Pradhan's wife Arpita will be campaigning for her husband. She had appealed to the people of Nandigram through a video message to vote for him.
"He was arrested immediately after becoming the Congress candidate. He used to go to vote regularly and stayed in the area during the Puja festivities. He even visited three months ago, yet no one arrested him then! Why is this action being taken only now that he is standing as a Congress candidate?" said Arpita.
She also alleged that her husband had been implicated in a false case dating back to 2007.
