The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Paresh Paul and two other party leaders in connection with a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged murder of BJP supporter Abhijit Sarkar during the post-poll violence that erupted after the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections.
Justice Jay Sengupta, while allowing the plea, directed that in the event of arrest, the petitioners be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of ₹1 lakh with two sureties of an equal amount, one of whom must be a local resident.
The court imposed strict conditions, directing the leaders not to threaten witnesses or enter the street where Sarkar’s mother and brother reside until the completion of the trial. Paul was specifically cautioned against making any provocative speeches, particularly in reference to Sarkar’s family.
The bench also ordered the petitioners not to leave the country without prior permission from the trial court and to remain present during court hearings related to the matter.
While granting relief, the court observed that although most of the evidence against the three leaders was available to the CBI at the time of filing its first supplementary charge sheet, the agency did not name them as accused then. It further noted that the second supplementary charge sheet was filed nearly four years later, despite the petitioners having cooperated with the investigation throughout.
