Congress's Nandigram bypoll pick seeks Calcutta HC protection in 5 old cases

The Calcutta High Court will hear Congress candidate Milan Pradhan's plea for protection in five more cases on Tuesday. The move comes as he remains in judicial custody, sharply limiting his Nandigram bypoll campaign.Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan is already in judicial custody in five other cases, and no relief has been sought in those matters at this stage. (File photo)The Calcutta High Court will on Tuesday hear an application by Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, who is contesting the Nandigram bypoll, seeking protection from coercive action in five criminal cases registered against him.Pradhan is already in judicial custody in five other cases, and no relief has been sought in those matters at this stage, his lawyer told the court. The bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with campaigning set to end on October 4.Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya allowed Pradhan's lawyer to file the petition seeking protection from coercive action in the additional five cases and said the matter would be heard on Tuesday.Pradhan's lawyer, Ayan Bhattacharjee, told the court that the Congress candidate was arrested on September 18 in one case and was later shown arrested in four more. He said there were five additional cases against Pradhan, which had been mentioned in his affidavit before the Election Commission, and protection was being sought from the High Court in relation to them.On Saturday, a court in Haldia in Purba Medinipur district sent Pradhan to judicial custody till October 3, a day after his arrest on multiple charges, including murder, linked to cases dating back 19 years. This effectively ends his chance to campaign for himself in the Nandigram bypoll. The bypoll is being held for the Nandigram Assembly seat vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari resigned from the seat in May, opting to retain Bhabanipur after defeating Mamata Banerjee in the Assembly election earlier this year.The West Bengal Police said Pradhan was arrested on the basis of four pending arrest warrants in non-bailable cases related to offences including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping with intent to murder, causing disappearance of evidence, house trespass, and rioting with arms and deadly weapons.The cases were filed during the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram.The High Court will now hear Pradhan's plea for protection in the five additional cases, while he remains in judicial custody in the other five matters ahead of the October 6 bypoll.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 21, 2026 12:56 IST