The order addresses a case raised after the court’s September 22 hearing, when the State had told the High Court that five criminal cases were pending against Pradhan and that he was not wanted in a sixth. The court questioned why he was later shown arrested in another case, numbered 45 of 2007, at Khejuri police station in Purba Medinipur.
Pradhan’s counsel said the case had not been disclosed at the earlier hearing. The State’s additional advocate general told the court that a Contai court issued a production warrant on September 19. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya noted that no proof of service had been produced and directed police not to act against Pradhan in that prosecution through October 12.
The ruling comes ahead of the Nandigram by-election scheduled for October 6; campaigning is due to end on October 4. The court reiterated that Pradhan should be able to contest, subject to bail in five cases in which he has been arrested. The allegations in the pending cases include murder and attempted murder; they remain allegations, not findings in this order.