Calcutta high court grants interim bail to 4 accused netas in Narada case – Times of India

KOLKATA: The Calcutta high court on Friday granted interim bail to four senior Bengal politicians arrested by the CBI in the Narada sting operation case on May 17. All four — cabinet ministers Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee, Trinamool MLA Madan Mitra and former Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee — were under house arrest from May 21.
The five-judge bench gave the four bail on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh each and sureties. The court directed the politicians not to speak to the media or make public comments in connection with the case pending in court and not to “tamper with evidence or attempt to intimidate or influence the witness”.
“The factual and legal issues… (raised by the counsel for the CBI and the politicians) may require some time for final determination,” the bench said, adding that interim bail was “fit and proper considering all circumstances”. The five-judge bench — comprising acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justices IP Mukerji, Harish Tandon, Soumen Sen and Arijit Banerjee — will hear the matter again on May 31.
CBI counsel and solicitorgeneral Tushar Mehta opposed bail, fearing it might have an “adverse impact on society”, prompting Justice Mukerji to observe: “This (Narada) probe started in 2017. They were not arrested then and the probe was completed without arresting them. Why do you think they need to be arrested now and prevented from discharging their public duties?” Acting CJ Bindal held that the bench should grant interim bail and then hear the matter as it could take a week or so.
A special CBI court had given the four arrested politicians interim bail on May 17, but a division bench of acting CJ Bindal and Justice Banerjee stayed that order hours later. The CBI also sought a transfer of the case, citing the mob in front of Nizam Palace following the arrests and the “dharna staged by Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and state ministers” at its office.
The matter was referred to a larger, five-judge bench following a difference in the division bench over granting of interim bail. The CBI also moved the Supreme Court, seeking cancellation of bail and a plea that the case be heard anew, but the apex court did not entertain the CBI plea.