The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday rejected the bail petition of Trinamool Congress leader Birbhum Anubrata Mondal in a cross-border cattle-smuggling case.
A Division Bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Ajay Kumar Gupta while rejecting the bail petition said that Mr. Mondal has “overwhelming influence not only in society but upon the State administration’. The Bench rejected the arguments made by the counsels representing Mr. Mondal that he should be granted bail on the principle of parity as other accused in the alleged cattle-smuggling scam, including Mohammad Emanul Haque, have been released on bail “Md. Enamul Haque was released on bail by the apex court after one year. Petitioner is in custody for about five months. He cannot claim parity with Md. Enamul Haque. In addition thereto, petitioner continues to hold a powerful political post,” the order said. The court observed that releasing Mr. Mondal, the Birbhum district president of the Trinamool, on bail will have an ominous impact on witnesses.
“Enlargement of the petitioner on bail would have an ominous impact not only on the witnesses but on the smooth administration of criminal justice in the case,” the Bench said.
Mr. Mondal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case on August 21 after he did not respond to summons by the agency. He has been behind bars since then. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could not execute a production warrant against Mr. Mondal as the Birbhum police arrested him over an allegation of threatening a Trinamool worker. The CBI had seized bank deposits worth ₹16 crore belonging to family and friends of Mr. Mondal.
Despite the arrest and allegations of corruption, the Trinamool has backed Mr. Mondal who is a key organiser for the party. The denial of bail to the party strongman assumes political significance ahead of panchayat election in the State.
