Court Remands Congress Candidate Milan Pradhan Until October 7

A court in Purba Medinipur has remanded Milan Pradhan, the Indian National Congress candidate for the Nandigram by-election, to judicial custody until October 7. Pradhan was arrested on September 18 in connection with non-bailable warrants stemming from the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement, facing charges that include murder, rioting, and criminal intimidation.

The detention prevents Pradhan from campaigning before the October 4 deadline for the October 6 election. The by-election was triggered after Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat in May. In a strategic shift, Mamata Banerjee announced her support for Pradhan on September 18, describing Congress as a natural ally to strengthen the INDIA bloc after the Trinamool Congress withdrew its own candidate.

Pradhan petitioned the Calcutta High Court for protection against coercive action, with his legal team calling the timing of the arrest a subversion of democracy. On September 22, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya orally directed the West Bengal government to allow Pradhan to contest if he secured bail and ordered that no further coercive steps be taken until the October 9 vote count. However, subsequent judicial orders from courts in Contai and Purba Medinipur have extended his custody, with the most recent order lasting until October 7. The Congress party continues to petition the Calcutta High Court for Pradhan's bail.