Calcutta High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Three TMC Leaders in 2021 Abhijit Sarkar Murder Case

In a significant development, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Trinamool Congress MLA Paresh Pal and Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillors Swapan Samaddar and Papiya Ghosh in connection with the 2021 Abhijit Sarkar murder case. The court's decision comes after the trio moved the high court in July, seeking anticipatory bail. According to the court, the three individuals will not be arrested if they appear before the lower court on CBI summons, and will be granted bail immediately on a bond of Rs 1 lakh if arrested. The court also imposed certain conditions, including a ban on them from entering Sarkar's house in Shitalatla Lane and cooperating in the investigation.

Key Takeaways:

• The Calcutta High Court granted anticipatory bail to Trinamool Congress MLA Paresh Pal, Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Swapan Samaddar, and Papiya Ghosh in the 2021 Abhijit Sarkar murder case.
• The court's decision was based on certain conditions, including a ban on the three individuals from entering Sarkar's house in Shitalatla Lane and cooperating in the investigation.
• The trio had moved the high court in July, seeking anticipatory bail, after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a supplementary charge sheet naming them as accused.
• The CBI began its probe on August 25, 2021, and filed a supplementary charge sheet on September 30, 2021, against 20 accused, including the 15 already charge-sheeted by the state police.
• Sarkar's family has alleged that TMC supporters killed him, and Pal had a role to play in the murder.

Statistics:

• August 30, 2021: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a supplementary charge sheet against 20 accused, including the 15 already charge-sheeted by the state police.
• September 30, 2021: The CBI filed a supplementary charge sheet naming Pal, Samaddar, and Ghosh, along with 15 others, as accused in the case.
• July 2022: The trio moved the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
• May 2022: Sarkar's brother, Biswajit Sarkar, sat in a dharna outside the CBI office demanding a "speedy and effective" investigation into Abhijit's death.
• May 2, 2021: Sarkar was allegedly beaten up by a group of eight people at his house in Narkeldanga, leaving him unconscious.

Sources:

• "Calcutta High Court grants anticipatory bail to three TMC leaders in 2021 Abhijit Sarkar murder case" - IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd.
• "CBI summons Trinamool leaders in 2021 Abhijit Sarkar murder case" - Contify.com