CALCUTTA HC ORDERS HOUSE ARREST FOR TMC LEADERS, CONSTITUTES 5-JUDGE BENCH

Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered the house arrest of Bengal cabinet ministers Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee and former ministers Madan Mitra and Sovan Chatterjee. The four had been arrested in connection with the Narada sting case.

The court announced that there would be no bail for the TMC politicians and all the accused will be in custody. They will perform official duties via virtual meetings, which would be recorded. Their movements should also be monitored through CCTV cameras and no officers would be allowed to meet the ministers, the order said further.

The court also referred the case to a larger bench with five judges. The hearing is scheduled to start from Monday, 24 May. The bench will take a decision on interim bail and whether the case would be transferred from West Bengal.

Justice Arijit Banerjee of the Calcutta HC bench has agreed to grant interim bail to the arrested TMC leaders. However, Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal has ordered house arrest.

Meanwhile, the CBI has sought the transfer of the case, citing ‘extraordinary circumstances’. The investigation agency is arguing that the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, along with other ministers, are trying to influence the judiciary.

TMC chief Banerjee had sat on a dharna at the CBI office on Monday after the arrests were made. Six ministers including the state law minister had also been present there.

After a day’s drama following the arrests, a special court granted them bail, which was cancelled by the Calcutta HC within hours. Following that, the four leaders were taken to the Presidency prison.

Madan Mitra, Subrata Mukherjee and Sovan Chatterjee were later admitted to a hospital in Kolkata after they complained of respiratory problems. A medical board has been formed for their treatment.