Calcutta HC to Hear Congress' Nandigram Bypoll Candidate's Protection Plea on September 22

Calcutta HC to Hear Milan Pradhan's Protection Plea

The Calcutta High Court is scheduled to hear on September 22 a plea filed by Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, seeking protection from coercive action in five additional criminal cases.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya permitted Pradhan's lawyer to file the application after the matter was mentioned before the court on September 21. The plea concerns cases in which Pradhan fears further arrest or coercive police action.

Pradhan is already in judicial custody in connection with other cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram land-acquisition movement.

Why Has Milan Pradhan Approached the High Court?

According to Pradhan's lawyer, Ayan Bhattacharjee, the Congress candidate was arrested on September 18 in connection with one case and was subsequently shown as arrested in four more cases.

The lawyer told the court that five additional cases had been disclosed by Pradhan in his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission. The present petition seeks protection from coercive action in relation to those cases.

The plea is separate from the cases in which Pradhan is already in custody.

Pradhan Is Already in Judicial Custody

Pradhan was sent to judicial custody by a court in Haldia until October 3 following his arrest.

Police have said that the cases relate to incidents during the 2007 anti-land-acquisition movement in Nandigram and include allegations involving murder, attempt to murder, abduction with intent to murder, disappearance of evidence, house trespass and rioting with weapons.

These are allegations contained in the criminal cases and police claims; they have not been established as convictions by the court.

Five More Cases Are at the Centre of the Plea

The latest High Court petition concerns five additional cases that Pradhan's legal team says were already disclosed in his election affidavit.

His lawyer has sought protection against coercive action in those matters because of the possibility of further arrests while Pradhan is already in custody.

The High Court will consider the request on September 22. The court has not yet ruled on whether such protection should be granted.

Nandigram Bypoll Is Scheduled for October 6

The legal proceedings have become particularly significant because Pradhan is contesting the Nandigram Assembly bypoll scheduled for October 6, 2026.

The final day for campaigning is October 4.

His lawyer told the High Court that Pradhan is already in custody even though the election is approaching, and sought protection in the additional cases.

His current custody has consequently restricted his ability to campaign personally.

How Did Pradhan Become the Congress Candidate?

Pradhan's candidacy followed a change in the opposition contest in Nandigram.

Mamata Banerjee's TMC faction had initially fielded a candidate in the constituency. That candidate subsequently withdrew, after which Banerjee announced support for the Congress candidate.

Pradhan was arrested on September 18, shortly after that political development. The timing has become part of the political discussion surrounding the bypoll, although the arrest itself relates to older criminal cases.

Why Is Nandigram Politically Important?

The Nandigram seat became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari resigned from the constituency and chose to retain Bhabanipur following the 2026 Assembly election.

The bypoll has consequently attracted attention from the BJP, Congress and TMC factions.

The contest is also taking place amid a wider political dispute in West Bengal involving the TMC's organisational identity and election symbol.

What Has the West Bengal Police Said?

The West Bengal Police has said Pradhan was arrested on the basis of pending non-bailable warrants connected with cases from the 2007 Nandigram movement.

Police have cited allegations including murder, attempted murder, abduction with intent to murder, destruction of evidence, trespassing and rioting with deadly weapons.

The police position is part of the record surrounding the arrest. The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.

What Is Pradhan's Legal Position?

Pradhan's legal team is seeking judicial protection in the five additional cases.

His lawyer has argued that the cases were already disclosed in the candidate's affidavit submitted to the Election Commission and that protection is necessary because he is facing the possibility of further coercive action.

The High Court has agreed to hear the plea but has not yet determined its merits.

A Separate Custody Order Was Also Reported

On September 21, a Contai court in Purba Medinipur reportedly remanded Pradhan to 14 days of judicial custody, until October 5, in connection with another case registered at Khejuri police station.

His lawyer said this order would also be challenged before the High Court.

This development is separate from the September 22 hearing on the protection plea concerning the additional cases.

What Does 'Protection From Coercive Action' Mean?

A request for protection from coercive action generally seeks judicial relief against measures such as arrest or other coercive police action in specified cases.

It does not by itself decide whether the underlying criminal allegations are true.

In Pradhan's case, the September 22 hearing will focus on his request concerning five additional cases, while proceedings in the cases for which he is already in custody continue separately.

Nandigram Bypoll Case at a Glance

IssueDetailsCandidateMilan PradhanPartyCongressConstituencyNandigramStateWest BengalHigh CourtCalcutta High CourtJudgeJustice Saugata BhattacharyyaPleaProtection from coercive actionAdditional cases citedFiveArrest dateSeptember 18, 2026Current statusJudicial custodyBypoll dateOctober 6, 2026Last campaign dayOctober 4, 2026Protection plea hearingSeptember 22, 2026Cases' historical context2007 Nandigram agitation

What Happens on September 22?

The Calcutta High Court will hear Pradhan's plea seeking protection in the five additional cases.

The court could issue directions concerning the requested protection, seek further information or pass another appropriate order after hearing the parties.

The hearing will not by itself resolve all criminal cases against Pradhan. Those proceedings will continue according to the applicable judicial process.

Political Context Around the Arrest

The arrest has become a political issue because it occurred shortly after the TMC faction led by Mamata Banerjee backed Pradhan's Congress candidacy in Nandigram.

Congress leaders have raised questions about the timing, while the police have pointed to pending warrants and old cases as the basis for the arrest.

These competing political interpretations should be distinguished from the underlying legal proceedings, which concern specific criminal cases and court orders.

Why the Case Matters for the Bypoll

The legal proceedings could affect the practical ability of the Congress candidate to participate in the election campaign.

With polling scheduled for October 6 and campaigning ending two days earlier, Pradhan's continued custody leaves limited time for any personal campaigning before polling.

The High Court's decision on the protection plea could therefore have implications for his legal position during the remaining election period, although the court's eventual order cannot be predicted in advance.

What Happens Next?

The immediate development is the September 22 Calcutta High Court hearing on Pradhan's plea.

Further proceedings may follow depending on the High Court's directions and the status of the criminal cases.

Meanwhile, the Nandigram bypoll campaign will continue toward the October 6 polling date, with the candidate's legal situation remaining an important issue surrounding the contest.

Bottom Line

The Calcutta High Court will hear on September 22 a protection plea filed by Congress' Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan concerning five additional criminal cases.

Pradhan is already in judicial custody following his September 18 arrest in connection with older cases linked to the 2007 Nandigram agitation. His lawyer has told the court that five further cases were disclosed in Pradhan's Election Commission affidavit and that protection from coercive action is being sought in those matters.

The Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with campaigning ending on October 4. The September 22 hearing will determine the next legal step on Pradhan's protection request, while the underlying criminal allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.