Calcutta High Court ordered the release of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s aide Rakhal Bera’s release who’s been locked up in last for the last two months.
Justice Rajasekhar Mantha observed yesterday that there seemed to be a pattern of coordination between the police and administration to keep the said person in custody by hook or by crook — on one pretext or the other, by filing one first information report (FIR) after another.
Bera’s lawyers submitted in the court that when Bera was freed on bail in connection with an FIR registered at Manicktala Police Station, another case was registered in Contai Police Station in Purba Medinipur district and he was immediately arrested thereafter. Reportedly, five cases have been filed against Bera on various charges, including allegations of promise of jobs in lieu of money.
Adhikari, who left TMC for BJP in December 2020, defeated his opponent and incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the Nandigram seat in the assembly elections.
“This Court directs that the petitioner shall be forthwith released from custody,” Justice Mantha ordered. He further said that the state police may register FIR against the petitioner but “he shall not be arrested without the express leave of this court.”
