Calcutta HC grants interim bail to Rakesh Singh; speculation grows over BJP ticket from Port seat

The Calcutta High Court on Monday granted interim bail to BJP leader Rakesh Singh, with Justice Kaushik Chanda approving his plea. The development comes after months of legal proceedings and has immediately triggered political speculation ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Soon after the order, Singh shared a post on social media, stating that “truth has prevailed,” while taking a swipe at Trinamool Congress leader and minister Firhad Hakim. In his message, he claimed that multiple cases filed against him and his family were false and expressed confidence about returning stronger after his release.

Singh was arrested in September 2025 from the Tangra area in connection with alleged vandalism at Bidhan Bhavan, the Congress office in Kolkata. The incident was reportedly linked to protests over remarks made during a rally by Rahul Gandhi. Police had registered multiple cases against him, including charges under the Arms Act, while his son was also among those arrested during the investigation.

With elections approaching, attention has now shifted to whether Singh will be fielded as a BJP candidate from the Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, where the party has yet to announce its nominee. His release is being seen as politically significant, potentially influencing candidate selection and campaign dynamics in a closely watched seat.