Nandigram bypoll: Supreme Court to hear Bengal govt's plea against interim bail to Milan Pradhan

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to the Congress candidate till October 20, allowing him to campaign for the October 6 bypoll

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on October 5 the Bengal government's plea challenging the interim bail granted to Congress Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan in six criminal cases registered against him 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.

The timing of the arrest sparked a political slugfest, with the Congress and Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress accusing the Bengal BJP government of using police machinery, electoral malpractice, and intimidation tactics to crush opposition.

Mamata had announced her endorsement for Pradhan after the Trinamool Congress candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew her nomination from the Nandigram Assembly by-election after meeting Suvendu Adhikari. Shortly after Mamata's announcement, Pradhan was arrested.