Calcutta HC grants interim bail to CPI(M) leader in Baruipur violence case
Synopsis
A Calcutta High Court bench has granted conditional interim bail to CPI(M) district leader Md Lahek Ali — arrested over the Baruipur unrest that followed the rape and murder of a minor girl and a subsequent mob lynching of an innocent youth. With 26 police cases against him and bail restricted to his home locality, the court's 10 September review date will be closely watched.
Key Takeaways
Calcutta High Court Justice Tirthankar Ghosh granted conditional interim bail to CPI(M) leader Md Lahek Ali on 2 September .
Bail is valid until 10 September ; Ali cannot leave his locality in Baruipur during this period.
Ali was arrested on 12 July by the West Bengal STF for allegedly instigating violence; police registered 26 cases against him.
Unrest in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas erupted after a minor girl's body was recovered on 5 July ; a mob lynched an innocent youth during the protests.
Key accused Pravas Mondal was killed in a police encounter after allegedly attempting to snatch an officer's firearm.
The CPI(M) has called Ali's arrest political vendetta; Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has visited Baruipur twice pledging strict action.
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, 2 September granted conditional interim bail to Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Md Lahek Ali, who was arrested in July by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police in connection with the communal unrest at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas — violence that erupted following the rape and murder of a minor girl. The bail, granted by a single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, remains in effect until 10 September.
Bail Conditions and Court Directions
Justice Ghosh imposed strict conditions on the interim relief. Ali is barred from leaving the locality in Baruipur where his residence is situated for the duration of the bail period. The court also directed him to cooperate fully with the police investigation during this time.
Ali had approached Justice Ghosh's bench seeking bail on humanitarian grounds, citing the deteriorating health of his elderly mother. After a brief hearing on Wednesday afternoon, the court granted the conditional interim bail till 10 September.
Background: The Baruipur Unrest
Widespread tension gripped the Suryapur area of Baruipur after the body of a minor girl was recovered on 5 July. The incident triggered large-scale protests, during which a local youth was lynched by a mob on suspicion of involvement in the crime. He was subsequently found to be innocent.
Ali, a member of the CPI(M)'s South 24 Parganas district committee, was accused by police of being among the principal masterminds who allegedly instigated and mobilised people to take the law into their own hands. Police registered 26 cases against him before arresting him on the night of 12 July at his residence.
Political Fallout and Official Response
The CPI(M) leadership characterised Ali's arrest as an act of political vendetta by the ruling dispensation, a charge the police have not publicly addressed. The case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political rivalry in West Bengal.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has visited Baruipur twice since the incident, assuring strict punishment for those accused in the rape and murder while also warning of action against individuals accused of inciting violence during the protests. Multiple arrests have already been made in connection with the unrest.
Key Accused Killed in Encounter
One of the principal accused in the rape and murder case, Pravas Mondal, was killed in a police encounter after he allegedly attempted to flee by snatching the firearm of an on-duty police officer, according to officials.
The case continues to unfold, with Ali's bail status set to come up for review before the Calcutta High Court on 10 September.
Point of View
The evidentiary burden on the STF remains substantial, and the 10 September review date is less a formality than a genuine checkpoint. The CPI(M)'s 'political vendetta' framing is a familiar playbook in West Bengal, but it does not address the specific allegations of mob mobilisation. What is missing from mainstream coverage is scrutiny of the 26 cases themselves — whether they reflect genuine criminal culpability or prosecutorial overreach will shape how this case is ultimately read.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was CPI(M) leader Md Lahek Ali arrested?
Md Lahek Ali was arrested on 12 July by the West Bengal Special Task Force on allegations that he was one of the principal masterminds behind instigating and mobilising people to take the law into their own hands during the Baruipur unrest. Police registered 26 cases against him in connection with the violence.
What were the conditions of Ali's interim bail?
The Calcutta High Court granted Ali interim bail valid until 10 September, with the condition that he cannot leave the locality in Baruipur where his residence is located. He is also required to fully cooperate with the police investigation during the bail period.
What triggered the Baruipur violence?
The unrest began after the body of a minor girl was recovered in the Suryapur area of Baruipur on 5 July. Protests turned violent, and a local youth was lynched by a mob on suspicion of involvement in the crime — he was later found to be innocent.
What happened to the main accused in the rape and murder case?
Pravas Mondal, identified as one of the key accused in the rape and murder, was killed in a police encounter after he allegedly tried to escape by snatching the firearm of an on-duty police officer, according to officials.
What has the CPI(M) said about Ali's arrest?
The CPI(M) leadership has described Ali's arrest as an act of political vendetta, though the party has not publicly challenged the specific charges. The case has become a point of contention in West Bengal's political landscape.
