Calcutta HC grants relief to Nandigram TMC candidate Pabitra Kar, no coercive action for now

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim relief to Trinamool Congress candidate from Nandigram, Pabitra Kar, in a robbery and assault case, directing that no coercive or strict action be taken against him for now. The court, however, allowed the police to continue their investigation. The order came just days before the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, where Nandigram remains a high-profile constituency.

The case was heard by Justice Ajay Kumar Mukherjee, who clarified that while the probe into the allegations can proceed, the candidate cannot be arrested or subjected to stringent measures at this stage. The FIR was lodged on April 7 by a local resident, Buddhadeb Giri, who alleged that Kar and his associates assaulted him on April 6 and forcibly tried to make him chant a political slogan. The complainant also claimed that ₹3,700 was snatched during the incident.

Pabitra Kar had approached the court seeking cancellation of the FIR, maintaining that the case was politically motivated and intended to harass him ahead of the elections. The court, after hearing the plea, granted interim protection without halting the investigation. The development comes at a crucial time, with voting in Nandigram scheduled in the first phase on April 23.

Kar’s candidature has already drawn attention due to his political journey. Once considered a close associate of opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, he had joined the BJP before the 2021 elections but later distanced himself from active politics. He rejoined the Trinamool Congress on March 17 and was immediately fielded from Nandigram, setting up a high-stakes electoral contest. The court’s relief is expected to provide a boost to his campaign at a critical juncture.