Calcutta HC extends Milan Pradhan's interim bail till Nov 25 in Nandigram case
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court extended Congress leader Milan Pradhan's interim bail to 25 November — just a day before he was due to surrender at a Haldia district court. Pradhan had contested the Nandigram bypoll with rare cross-party backing from Mamata Banerjee's TMC faction, only to lose to BJP's Hasirani Rath by over 1.23 lakh votes.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court extended Milan Pradhan 's interim bail until 25 November on 20 October 2026 .
The order was passed by Justice Partha Pratim Roy 's single-judge vacation bench, a day before Pradhan's previous bail expired on 21 October .
The Supreme Court had earlier declined to interfere in the Calcutta HC bail order and directed the state to return to the high court.
Pradhan contested the Nandigram Assembly bypoll as a Congress candidate with backing from Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee of TMC.
He was defeated by BJP 's Hasirani Rath by a margin of approximately 1.23 lakh votes .
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, extended the interim bail of Milan Pradhan, the Indian National Congress candidate in the recently concluded Nandigram Assembly bypoll, until 25 November. The extension was granted by a single-judge vacation bench headed by Justice Partha Pratim Roy, preventing Pradhan from having to surrender at a district court in Haldia, East Midnapore, where his previous bail had been set to expire on 21 October.
Background of the Bail Order
Pradhan was first granted interim bail to contest the Nandigram bypoll by 29 September. That order was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court, which declined to interfere and instead directed the West Bengal state government to return to the Calcutta High Court to proceed in the matter. The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee issued a press statement quoting Justice Roy's latest ruling.
Congress Reaction
Suvankar Sarkar, the state Congress president in West Bengal, expressed satisfaction over the Tuesday order and told reporters that the party has full faith in the judicial system and would continue to fight Pradhan's case. The extension provides the Congress breathing room as the legal proceedings continue in the high court.
The Nandigram Bypoll Context
Pradhan contested the Nandigram bypoll as the Congress candidate with the backing of a faction within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Mamata Banerjee announced her support for the Congress candidate after the TMC's own nominee, Sanchita Dey Pradhan, withdrew her candidacy at the last moment following a meeting with current West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Despite this cross-party support, Pradhan was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Hasirani Rath by a margin of approximately 1.23 lakh votes.
What Happens Next
With the interim bail now extended to 25 November, the matter will return before the Calcutta High Court for further proceedings. The case continues to draw attention given the unusual political alignment it attracted during the bypoll, and the outcome of the legal proceedings could have implications for Pradhan's political future in the state.
Point of View
But the political backdrop is anything but. A Congress candidate running in a BJP stronghold with TMC's tacit endorsement — only to lose by over 1.23 lakh votes — underscores both the fragility of opportunistic alliances and the BJP's commanding grip on Nandigram. The Supreme Court's hands-off approach, directing the state back to the Calcutta HC rather than intervening, reinforces judicial deference to lower court fact-finding in such bail matters. What bears watching is whether the Congress sustains its legal fight for Pradhan or quietly lets the case fade as West Bengal's political chessboard shifts ahead of the next assembly cycle.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Milan Pradhan's bail extended by the Calcutta High Court?
The Calcutta High Court extended Milan Pradhan's interim bail until 25 November 2026 to allow his legal proceedings to continue before he is required to surrender. His previous bail was set to expire on 21 October, and the extension was granted by Justice Partha Pratim Roy's vacation bench a day before that deadline.
What is the case against Milan Pradhan?
The source does not detail the specific charges against Milan Pradhan. He was first granted bail to contest the Nandigram Assembly bypoll by 29 September, and the Supreme Court declined to interfere in that order, directing the state to pursue the matter before the Calcutta High Court.
How did Milan Pradhan perform in the Nandigram bypoll?
Milan Pradhan was defeated by BJP candidate Hasirani Rath by a margin of approximately 1.23 lakh votes. He had contested as the Congress candidate with the backing of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee of the TMC.
Why did TMC support a Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll?
Mamata Banerjee announced her support for the Congress candidate after TMC's own nominee, Sanchita Dey Pradhan, withdrew her candidacy following a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The unusual cross-party backing drew wide attention but did not translate into a win.
What is the next step in Milan Pradhan's legal case?
With the interim bail extended to 25 November, the matter will return before the Calcutta High Court for further proceedings. The Congress has stated it will continue to pursue Pradhan's case through the judicial process.
