Congress candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll Milan Pradhan has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking protection from coercive action in cases registered against him, days after his arrest in connection with old cases linked to the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement.
Pradhan moved the high court on Monday seeking protection in six pending cases and any other cases or arrest warrants that may not have been disclosed to him. His lawyer also sought disclosure of any further warrants against the candidate. The matter is scheduled to be heard by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on Tuesday.
Pradhan was arrested on September 18 in connection with pending non-bailable warrants in cases dating back to 2007. He was subsequently sent to judicial custody, with a court remanding him until October 3 in one set of cases. A Contai court on Monday also remanded him to custody until October 5 in connection with another case registered at Khejuri police station.
The Nandigram Assembly bypoll is scheduled for October 6, while campaigning ends on October 4. His continued custody has therefore limited his ability to campaign ahead of the election.
Police have said the cases against Pradhan include serious allegations dating from the 2007 Nandigram agitation, including murder, rioting and criminal intimidation. Pradhan’s legal team is seeking protection from further coercive action as the election approaches.
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