Nandigram Bypoll: Calcutta High Court Tells Bengal To Allow Jailed Congress Candidate Milan Pradhan To Contest If Granted Bail Hearing a petition filed by jailed Congress nominee Milan Pradhan ahead of the Nandigram bypoll, the Calcutta High Court stated that he should be allowed to contest if he secures bail. Legal proceedings surrounding the upcoming bypoll in West Bengal's Nandigram assembly constituency intensified after the Calcutta High Court heard a plea filed by incarcerated Congress nominee Milan Pradhan. Addressing the state administration during the hearing, the court noted that Pradhan should be permitted to contest the election provided he secures bail under due process of law. Arrest in 2007 Cases and Judicial Remand Timeline Milan Pradhan, who was declared the Congress candidate for the Nandigram assembly bypoll, was taken into custody by the police on September 18 in connection with a criminal case registered back in 2007. Following his initial arrest, authorities formally shown him arrested in several other pending cases as well. These historical cases trace back to the 2007 anti-land acquisition agitation in Nandigram and include serious charges such as murder, attempted murder, abduction, and rioting. Pradhan remains lodged in jail under judicial custody. In one of the registered matters, the magistrate court remanded him to judicial custody until October 3, while in another separate case dating from 2007, his judicial remand extends up to October 5. State Government's Stand on the Six Challenged Cases Seeking protection from coercive steps in the multiple cases invoked against him, Pradhan approached the Calcutta High Court through a writ petition. The matter came up for hearing on Tuesday before the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya. Pradhan's counsel argued for interim protection against administrative and coercive police actions so that he could pursue his electoral campaign. During the proceedings, counsel representing the West Bengal government informed the bench that out of the six cases in which the petitioner had sought protection, five cases were already closed. The state further clarified that Pradhan is not named as an accused person in the sixth remaining case. The High Court formally placed the state government's submission on record. Electoral Calendar and Bail Conditions Following the state's submission, the court made an oral observation that if Pradhan manages to obtain bail, he should be allowed to participate in the election. Consequently, the practical ability of the candidate to take part in electoral activities remains tied directly to whether he secures bail from the relevant courts. Voting in the Nandigram assembly by-election is scheduled to take place on October 6, 2026, while the official campaigning period concludes on October 4. With his judicial custody extending until October 3 in one matter and October 5 in another, his presence on the campaign trail hinges entirely on urgent bail relief. The Congress leadership has maintained that it will continue to fight the legal battle on behalf of Pradhan, whereas police authorities contend that the action was carried out on the basis of long-pending non-bailable warrants stemming from the 2007 cases. What this means for you This judicial development directly affects the political contest in Nandigram and the choices available to voters. • Across India: The ruling reinforces the legal precedent that pendency of decades-old criminal warrants does not automatically strip a citizen of contesting elections if bail is secured. It highlights how candidate eligibility interacts with pending judicial warrants across the country. • In West Bengal: Nandigram voters face the reality of an election campaign where the Congress nominee is largely absent from the ground. Since campaigning concludes on October 4 and his remand runs until October 3 and October 5, voters may have to cast their ballots on October 6 without the candidate holding public rallies. Why this happened This situation arose from the police execution of long-pending non-bailable warrants linked to the 2007 Nandigram agitation against the declared election candidate. • Execution of Old Warrants: Police authorities acted on long-pending non-bailable warrants originating from the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement. Pradhan was arrested on September 18, right after entering the electoral fray for the bypoll. • Status of Challenged FIRs: During the High Court hearing, the state government clarified that out of the six cases mentioned in Pradhan's writ, five were already closed and he was not an accused in the sixth. This factual clarification prompted the court to observe that bail should allow him to contest. • Urgency of Electoral Deadlines: With voting scheduled for October 6, 2026, and campaign activities ending on October 4, his remand up to October 3 and October 5 forced an urgent legal push by his party. Questions & Answers 1. What did the Calcutta High Court observe regarding Milan Pradhan? The High Court orally remarked that if Milan Pradhan is granted bail, he should be permitted to contest the Nandigram assembly bypoll. 2. Why was Milan Pradhan arrested by the police? He was arrested on September 18 under pending non-bailable warrants linked to the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition agitation, which involved charges of murder, attempted murder, and abduction. 3. What did the state government submit regarding the six cases in court? The West Bengal government stated that five of the six cases had already been closed, and Pradhan was not an accused in the remaining sixth case. 4. How long does Milan Pradhan remain in judicial custody? He has been remanded to judicial custody until October 3 in one matter and until October 5 in another 2007 case. 5. When is the voting scheduled for the Nandigram assembly bypoll? Voting for the Nandigram seat is scheduled for October 6, 2026, with the election campaign concluding on October 4. https://trendkia.com/en/national/nandigram-upachunava-calcutta-high-court-ka-nirdesha-jamanata-milane-para-congress-pratyashi-milan-pradhan-ko-larane-den-chunava-36391 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.