Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan was sent to judicial custody till October 3 by a local court on Saturday, a day after he was arrested in connection with multiple cases dating back to the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement.
Pradhan was produced before the Haldia Subdivisional Court following his arrest on Friday. The West Bengal Police said he was arrested on the basis of four pending non-bailable arrest warrants relating to cases of rioting, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and criminal intimidation. He was also booked under relevant sections of the Arms Act.
Court proceedings and pending warrants
A counsel appearing for Pradhan said the court had remanded him to 14 days' judicial custody in connection with three warrants linked to cases registered at Nandigram police station.
He will be produced before the Contai court on Monday in connection with the fourth warrant issued in cases registered at Khejuri police station, the lawyer said.
According to the counsel, the prosecution told the court that Pradhan had been absconding for the past 19 years and that police had been unable to trace him. The lawyer said the prosecution maintained that he was arrested after police were able to locate him.
Police have described the cases as involving serious offences, including murder, attempt to murder, abduction with intent to murder, disappearance of evidence, house trespass and rioting with arms and deadly weapons.
Arrest follows Mamata's support
Pradhan's arrest came within hours of Mamata Banerjee announcing her support for him in the October 6 Nandigram Assembly bypoll. Banerjee extended the support after her faction's nominee, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, withdrew from the contest.
The timing of the arrest has triggered a political dispute, with both the Congress and the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction alleging that the case was being used to target the Opposition ahead of the election. The BJP has rejected the allegations and maintained that the arrest relates to a pending criminal case.
Congress says campaign will continue
The West Bengal Congress has said it will continue campaigning in Nandigram despite Pradhan's arrest. State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar said party workers would carry on the campaign in the candidate's absence.
With Pradhan in judicial custody until October 3 and polling scheduled for October 6, the arrest has left the Congress candidate with limited time to campaign should he secure release before the election. The canvassing period is also expected to end shortly before polling.