Calcutta HC gives Trinamool MLA Paresh Ram Das arrest relief till June 30
Synopsis
A Calcutta High Court bench has shielded TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das from arrest until 30 June, even as investigations into multiple FIRs — including a land-grabbing allegation — continue. The order comes after FIRs dated 16 May, filed in the wake of a political transition in West Bengal, raising pointed questions about timing and motive.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court granted Paresh Ram Das , TMC MLA from Canning Paschim , temporary protection from arrest on 21 May .
Police cannot take action against the MLA until 30 June , per the order of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya .
The ongoing investigation will continue, and the MLA must fully cooperate with police.
The state cited multiple allegations including land grabbing in the Canning area; the MLA alleged political motivation.
The FIRs were dated 16 May , after a political change in West Bengal , with one tracing back to an incident in 2021 .
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 21 May granted temporary protection from arrest to Paresh Ram Das, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Canning Paschim constituency in South 24 Parganas district, after he approached the court seeking relief in multiple criminal cases filed against him. The order shields him from police action until 30 June.
Key Developments
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya passed the order, making clear that while the MLA cannot be arrested for now, the ongoing investigation against him will continue uninterrupted. The court further directed that Paresh Ram Das must extend full cooperation to the police during the probe. If he fails to do so, the state government has been permitted to bring the matter back before the court.
What the Two Sides Argued
The state government contended that there are multiple serious allegations against the TMC leader, including land grabbing in the Canning area. In his counter-argument, the MLA claimed before the court that the cases were politically motivated and that 'one false case after another has been framed against him.'
The court noted that the FIRs against the MLA were dated 16 May — a period following a political transition in the state. Of these, one FIR related to an incident from April last year, while the remaining FIRs stemmed from an incident in 2021.
Court's Reasoning
After hearing both sides, the High Court observed that the FIRs are still at a very early stage and that no final decision needs to be taken in haste. Weighing the overall circumstances, the bench decided to extend interim relief to the MLA for the time being.
Broader Political Context
This comes amid a reported crackdown on alleged illegal activities following a change of government in West Bengal after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the state assembly elections, according to reports. Police have reportedly been taking action against individuals accused of criminal conduct, including several TMC leaders against whom allegations of lawbreaking had been raised. Critics argue that the timing of the FIRs — filed after the political transition — lends credence to the MLA's claim of political targeting, while the state maintains the cases are grounded in genuine complaints.
The matter will next come up for hearing before the High Court, where the court will assess whether the investigation has progressed and whether the interim protection should be extended or vacated.
Point of View
Shortly after a change of government in West Bengal — is the central tension this case cannot escape. Courts have historically been cautious about arrest in early-stage FIRs, and the High Court's reasoning reflects that caution. But the broader pattern matters: across Indian states, post-election crackdowns on outgoing ruling-party figures have a mixed record of legal sustainability. Whether these cases represent genuine accountability or political score-settling will ultimately be tested on evidence — and the court has wisely kept the investigation alive while restraining coercive action.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What relief did the Calcutta High Court grant to TMC MLA Paresh Ram Das?
The Calcutta High Court granted Paresh Ram Das temporary protection from arrest until 30 June 2025. The order was passed by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya after the MLA approached the court seeking relief from multiple criminal cases filed against him.
What are the allegations against Paresh Ram Das?
The state government cited multiple allegations against the TMC MLA, including land grabbing in the Canning area of South 24 Parganas. The FIRs were dated 16 May, with one linked to an incident from April the previous year and others relating to a 2021 incident.
Will the investigation against the MLA continue despite the court order?
Yes. The Calcutta High Court explicitly directed that the investigation against Paresh Ram Das will continue uninterrupted. The MLA is also required to fully cooperate with police, and the state may approach the court if he fails to do so.
Why did the MLA say the cases were filed against him?
Paresh Ram Das argued before the court that the cases were politically motivated, claiming that false FIRs had been filed against him one after another. The court noted that the FIRs were dated after a political transition in West Bengal, though it did not rule on the question of motive.
What happens after 30 June in this case?
The interim protection from arrest expires on 30 June, after which the matter will come up before the High Court again. The court will assess the progress of the investigation and decide whether to extend, modify, or vacate the relief.
