The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday made an oral observation that Congress candidate Milan Pradhan should be allowed to contest the upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll, subject to the legal position concerning his bail in other cases. The observation came while the court was hearing Pradhan’s plea seeking protection from coercive action in cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram land acquisition movement.
The court recorded the West Bengal government’s submission that five of the six cases specifically challenged by Pradhan had already been closed. The state also submitted that Pradhan was not an accused in the remaining case among those six. According to reports of the proceedings, the state informed the court that there were 11 cases in total involving Pradhan and that he had been arrested in five of them.
During the hearing, the issue of Pradhan’s participation in the Nandigram bypoll also came up. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya orally told the state to let Pradhan contest, provided he secures bail in the cases in which he is currently in custody. The court also directed that no further coercive steps be taken against him in the matters before it until October 9. The case has been listed again for October 12.
Pradhan was arrested on September 18 in connection with cases linked to incidents during the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram. Reports said the cases involve allegations including murder, attempted murder, abduction with intent to murder, disappearance of evidence, house trespass and rioting with weapons. His arrest came shortly before the Nandigram bypoll, creating a legal issue over his ability to campaign for the election.
According to the state government’s submissions before the High Court, warrants in five cases had remained pending and Pradhan had been arrested in those matters. The state also argued that the police were required to execute pending warrants and that the action was not limited to Pradhan alone. The state’s position was presented in response to the candidate’s plea seeking protection from further coercive action.
Pradhan’s legal team, however, questioned the timing of the arrests and the execution of warrants in cases that originated in 2007. His counsel argued that the timing was significant because Pradhan had become the Congress candidate for the Nandigram bypoll and the election schedule was already underway. The lawyer sought protection from further action and asked the court for information regarding any other proceedings that could affect Pradhan.
The court’s observations came against the backdrop of the approaching election schedule. The Nandigram Assembly bypoll is scheduled for October 6. The campaign period is set to end on October 4, while counting of votes is scheduled for October 9. These dates were highlighted during the court proceedings because Pradhan’s custody has restricted his ability to campaign personally.
The legal developments have also attracted political reactions in West Bengal. Congress leaders have urged voters in Nandigram to support Pradhan despite his custody. West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Subhankar Sarkar welcomed the High Court’s observation and said the party would continue to back its candidate. These statements represent the Congress party’s political position and should be distinguished from the court’s legal observations.
The case is particularly significant because Nandigram is the constituency from which West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was elected before the seat became vacant, leading to the bypoll. The contest has therefore attracted considerable political attention in the state.
The High Court has not concluded the broader criminal proceedings against Pradhan through this observation. The court’s remarks concern his ability to participate in the election and the legal protection sought in the cases placed before it. His bail proceedings in the cases in which he is currently in custody remain a separate legal matter.
The court is scheduled to take up the matter again on October 12. Until then, the legal position concerning Pradhan’s custody, bail and participation in the campaign remains an important part of the Nandigram bypoll developments.