Kolkata, June 03 (HS). The Calcutta High Court has granted relief from arrest to Jhargram BJP candidate Pranat Tudu. On Monday, Justice Amrita Sinha ordered that the police cannot take any action against the BJP candidate till June 21. The court also said that there will be a temporary stay on the FIR lodged at Gadbeta Police Station.
It is noteworthy that voting took place in Jhargram Lok Sabha constituency on 25 May. Some sporadic disturbances were reported at the polling booth that day. Prannath was attacked while going to the booth to see the voting situation in Gadbeta. He claimed that some Trinamool goons attacked him. Bricks and stones were thrown at him.
In that incident, several non-bailable cases including molestation, assault, attempt to murder were registered against the BJP candidate in Gadbeta police station. Pranat approached the High Court to dismiss the case. During the hearing on Monday, his lawyer Bilbadal Bhattacharya said that on the day of election, about 200 people attacked his client at a place called Mangalapota. Central forces personnel were also injured in that incident, but when Pranat and the team of Central Force went to Gadbeta police station to register an FIR, the complaint was not taken. However, based on the complaint of a Trinamool worker, the police registered a case against him.
The High Court said, the petitioner is a candidate. His presence may be required on the counting day. Therefore, the police should remain inactive in that case for the time being. The next hearing of this case is on June 18.