Nandigram Congress candidate’s bail cancelled:High Court’s double bench overturns single bench’s order just a day later

Congress has suffered a major setback ahead of the by-election to West Bengal’s Nandigram Assembly seat. On Friday, a Calcutta High Court division bench overturned the relief granted to the party’s candidate, Milan Pradhan, by a single bench on Thursday. The case is linked to a criminal case filed against Milan in 2007. The bench headed by High Court Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge said that criminal law does not provide for interim protection of this kind to any accused. If an accused fears arrest, they can file a petition seeking anticipatory bail. Single bench granted bail on Thursday Calcutta High Court Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, while granting bail to Milan Pradhan on Thursday, observed, “It is surprising that the complaint was filed in 2007 and the investigating officer took action against him 19 years later.” The court had ordered the Bengal Police not to take any action against Pradhan until 12 October. Will not even be able to campaign The Haldia Sub-Divisional Court sent him to judicial custody in four cases until 3 October on 19 September. The cases are linked to Nandigram in 2007. Subsequently, on 21 September, the Contai Court sent him to 14 days’ judicial custody in an arms case that is nearly two decades old. The orders of both lower courts have ended Pradhan’s chance to campaign in person. By-election after Adhikari vacated seat Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari won the Nandigram seat in the 2026 Assembly elections. He also won the Bhabanipur seat in Kolkata. He subsequently vacated the Nandigram seat. A by-election is being held for this seat. Nandigram holds a special place in West Bengal politics 2007 Anti-Land Acquisition Movement: The movement against the land acquisition that took place here in 2007 changed the course of West Bengal politics. On the strength of this movement, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) came to power in the state, ending the Left Front’s long rule. Suvendu helped Mamata during the movement. 2021 High-Profile Contest: In the 2021 Assembly election, Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee from this seat in a major political upset. ​