SC rejects plea against HC order protecting Soumendu Adhikari

The SC has dismissed a plea of the West Bengal government challenging a Calcutta High Court order which protected Soumendu Adhikari, brother of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, from arrest in a corruption case, saying the petition did not warrant interference now as the charge sheet has been filed.
Soumendu, also a BJP leader, was protected by the Calcutta HC against any probable coercive action by the West Bengal police on 31 January, 2023 in a case of alleged misappropriation of funds while allotting 14 shops at the Rangamati Cremation Ground at Contai in Purba Medinipur. The case relates to the period when he was the chairperson of Contai municipal body. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chanrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala took note of the fact that now the charge sheet has been filed and a local court has taken cognisance of it. The court said, hence, there was no need to adjudicate the plea of the state government challenging the high court order. “In pursuance of the impugned order of the HC dated 31 Jan, 2023, it is common ground that the charge sheet was submitted before the competent court on February 21, 2023 and cognisance has been taken on March 22. In this view of the matter, the Special Leave Petition does not warrant interference at this stage. The Special Leave Petition is accordingly dismissed,” the bench ordered.