Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan moves Calcutta HC for protection in 5 more cases
Synopsis
Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan — already in 14-day judicial custody for a 2007 murder case — has moved the Calcutta HC for protection against arrest in five more old cases, as the seat's 6 October poll approaches. His arrest came hours after Mamata Banerjee announced TMC support for him, drawing sharp questions about timing.
Key Takeaways
Milan Pradhan , Congress candidate for the Nandigram bypoll , petitioned the Calcutta High Court on 21 September seeking protection in five additional cases from 2007 .
The petition was admitted by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya ; the first hearing is on 22 September .
Pradhan was arrested on 18 September from Chandipur, East Midnapore, on a long-pending Non-Bailable Warrant in a 2007 murder case.
The Haldia subdivision Court sent him to 14 days' judicial custody until 3 October .
His arrest came hours after Mamata Banerjee announced her TMC faction's support for him and rival candidate Sanchita Dey Pradhan withdrew.
The Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls are scheduled for 6 October , with counting on 9 October .
Congress candidate for the Nandigram Assembly Constituency bypoll, Milan Pradhan, on Monday, 21 September 2026, approached a single-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court seeking interim protection from coercive police action in five additional cases registered against him in 2007 — days after he was arrested in connection with an old murder case from the same period. The petition was admitted by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, with the first hearing scheduled for 22 September.
Background to the Arrest
Pradhan was arrested on the evening of 18 September from Chandipur in East Midnapore district of West Bengal. According to police, the arrest was made to execute a long-standing Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) in an old murder case registered during the anti-land acquisition movement of 2007, when the state was governed by the late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee-led Left Front regime. Police stated they acted on instructions from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
On Saturday, the Haldia subdivision Court sent Pradhan to 14 days' judicial custody until 3 October.
What the Five Additional Cases Involve
Beyond the murder case, police have said arrest warrants were also issued against Pradhan in cases involving attempt to murder, kidnapping with intent to murder, destruction of evidence, trespassing, and spreading unrest using weapons — all stemming from the Nandigram movement of 2007. Three FIRs were reportedly filed at Nandigram police station and one at Khejuri police station.
Pradhan's counsel, Ayan Bhattacharya, stated after filing the petition that his client, already in custody for one case, apprehends being shown as arrested in the remaining five cases as well. The HC petition seeks to prevent such coercive action while the matter is sub-judice.
Political Context: Mamata's Backing and the Timing
The arrest has drawn significant political attention. Pradhan was taken into custody on the same evening that former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) would extend support to the Congress candidate from Nandigram. That announcement itself came shortly after Mamata's faction's own candidate, Sanchita Dey Pradhan, withdrew her nomination from the seat. Critics have questioned the timing of the arrest, though police maintain it was a routine execution of a long-pending NBW as directed by the ECI.
What's Next: Bypolls and Court Date
The bypoll for Nandigram, along with the Rejinagar Assembly Constituency in Murshidabad district, is scheduled for 6 October, with counting on 9 October. Pradhan remains in judicial custody until 3 October, just days before the vote. The Calcutta High Court hearing on 22 September will be closely watched, as the outcome could shape his legal standing — and political fortunes — ahead of polling day.
Point of View
Even if police point to a routine ECI-directed NBW execution. West Bengal's bypoll history is littered with last-minute legal manoeuvres that effectively sideline opposition candidates, and a candidate in 14-day custody with five more cases pending is, practically speaking, a severely constrained campaigner. The Calcutta HC's response on 22 September will test whether the judiciary moves fast enough to matter before 6 October. More broadly, the episode illustrates how legacy cases from the turbulent 2007 Nandigram land movement continue to serve as live political instruments nearly two decades later.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Milan Pradhan arrested ahead of the Nandigram bypoll?
Milan Pradhan was arrested on 18 September to execute a long-standing Non-Bailable Warrant in a murder case registered during the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram. Police stated the arrest was carried out on instructions from the Election Commission of India.
What has Milan Pradhan requested from the Calcutta High Court?
Pradhan has petitioned a single-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court for interim protection from coercive police action in five additional cases — involving attempt to murder, kidnapping with intent to murder, destruction of evidence, trespassing, and spreading unrest using weapons — all registered in 2007. The first hearing is scheduled for 22 September.
What is the political significance of the arrest?
The arrest took place on the same evening that former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her TMC faction would support Pradhan in the Nandigram bypoll, raising questions about the timing. Critics have suggested a political motive, while police maintain it was a routine warrant execution directed by the ECI.
When is the Nandigram bypoll and can Pradhan still contest?
The Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for 6 October, with counting on 9 October. Pradhan is in judicial custody until 3 October, which severely limits his ability to campaign, though his legal status as a candidate remains subject to ongoing court proceedings.
What were the 2007 Nandigram cases about?
The cases stem from the Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement of 2007, during the Left Front government led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. They include a murder charge and related offences such as attempt to murder, kidnapping, destruction of evidence, trespassing, and inciting violence with weapons.
