NEW DELHI, June 3: The Calcutta High Court on Monday gave two BJP candidates in West Bengal temporary reprieve from police action staying the FIRs filed against them.
Jhargram candidate Pranat Tudu and Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra, who were fielded in the 2024 Lok Sabha election by the BJP, had moved the High Court on Monday alleging that they were being stopped from participating in the counting of votes through “false FIRs” lodged against them.
Justice Amrita Sinha directed the police not to take coercive action against Mr Tudu till June 21 and against Ms Patra till July 5. “I am very happy with the verdict. The Opposition had lodged false police cases under non-bailable charges to stop BJP candidates from participating in the counting process,” Mr Tudu told reporters.
Mr Tudu’s next hearing has been scheduled for June 18. A case was filed at Garbeta police station against Mr Tudu under several non-bailable charges, including molestation, attempt to murder, and assault.
The next hearing for Ms Patra has been scheduled for June 19. Earlier, on May 21, the Calcutta High Court had given temporary reprieve to Ms Patra from police action till June 14, staying an FIR that was filed against her for alleged attacks on the Sandeshkhali residence of Trinamool Congress functionary Dilip Mallick.
Meanwhile, ahead of counting of votes on Tuesday, re-polling was held at one booth each in Barasat and Mathurapur Lok Sabha constituencies on Monday on orders from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The re-polling as ordered on the basis of reports of the returning officers, the district election officers and observers concerned, an official said.
The booth in the Barasat constituency was located at the Kadambagachi Sardar Para FP School in the Deganga Assembly segment, while the one in Mathurapur is located at the Aaddir Mahal Srichaitanya Bidyapith in the Kakdwip Assembly seat, he added. The BJP had also written to the poll body seeking re-polling in several booths in the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency.
(Manas Dasgupta)
