Calcutta High Court Grants Bail to Milan Pradhan in Six Cases

The Calcutta High Court granted interim bail to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in six cases, allowing him to remain out of custody and campaign ahead of the October 6 Nandigram Assembly by-election. The reports differ on when the order expires: one says October 21, while the other gives October 28. The court’s written order was not provided, leaving the end date unresolved. Pradhan is contesting the Nandigram seat, where he was arrested on September 18 in connection with cases linked to the 2007 Nandigram agitation, according to one account. The six cases were registered in Nandigram and Khejuri. The bail is interim, and the available accounts say it applies for a limited period; they do not establish a final resolution of the cases. In its account of the hearing, the court said Pradhan had filed his nomination papers before he was taken into custody. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh noted that the cases related to the 2007 agitation and that no material had been placed before the court showing Pradhan was wanted for an offence after that year. The court said he should have an opportunity to contest the election and directed his release on interim bail.