Congress candidate Milan Pradhan left Haldia jail on September 30 after receiving interim bail to contest the Nandigram Assembly by-election. PTI’s report, published by Siasat that afternoon, attributed confirmation of his release to a police officer. Pradhan told reporters he would begin campaigning immediately for the October 6 poll.
His release came as West Bengal challenged the bail in the Supreme Court. Bar & Bench and Kolkata TV reported on September 30 that the Court declined the state’s request for an earlier hearing and would take up the matter on Monday, October 5. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, pointed to the murder accusation and questioned relief granted for election participation.
The Calcutta High Court had granted interim bail on September 29 in six cases connected to the 2007 Nandigram land-acquisition protests. According to Bar & Bench, the High Court noted that police arrested Pradhan after he filed his nomination despite having had years to act. The cases include allegations of murder and rioting; interim bail does not resolve those accusations.
PTI and Kolkata TV report that the temporary relief runs through October 20, while Bar & Bench records a requirement to surrender before the trial court on October 21. Reported Supreme Court remarks suggesting the challenge might be dismissed were oral observations, not a disposal of the appeal. The written orders were not independently obtained for this report.