HALDIA — A local court in West Bengal has remanded Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll, to judicial custody until October 3, 2026.
The order was passed by the Haldia Subdivisional Court following Pradhan’s arrest on Friday in connection with multiple non-bailable criminal cases dating back to the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement.
Core Takeaways of the Legal Action
-
Accused Official: Milan Pradhan (Congress candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll).
-
Judicial Order: Remanded to judicial custody till October 3, 2026, by the Haldia Subdivisional Court.
-
Charges & Warrants: Arrested on four pending non-bailable warrants covering charges of murder, attempt to murder, rioting, kidnapping, criminal intimidation, and violations under the Arms Act.
-
Next Legal Proceeding: Scheduled for production before the Contai court on Monday regarding a fourth warrant issued by the Khejuri police station.
Historical Context & Timeline
According to the West Bengal Police, the charges against Pradhan stem from cases registered in 2007 during the historic Nandigram land agitation:
-
Prosecution Stand: The prosecution argued in court that Pradhan had been absconding for 19 years, leading to delayed execution of the arrest warrants.
-
Jurisdictional Distribution: Three warrants pertain to cases registered at the Nandigram police station, while the fourth relates to charges filed with the Khejuri police station.
Political Fallout Ahead of October 6 Bypoll
Pradhan’s arrest occurred shortly after former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her faction’s support for his candidacy in the October 6 Nandigram Assembly bypoll, following the withdrawal of Trinamool Congress nominee Sanchita Pradhan Dey.
-
Opposition Allegations: Both the Congress and the Mamata Banerjee-led faction criticized the timing of the arrest, alleging political motivation to obstruct opposition prospects ahead of polling.
-
BJP Response: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the political targeting allegations, maintaining that the action was a routine law enforcement measure executing long-pending judicial warrants.
