HC grants anticipatory bail to Anubrata Mondal in brick kiln loot case

The Calcutta High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to senior politician Anubrata Mondal in connection with an alleged Rs 30 lakh brick kiln loot and extortion case in Birbhum district. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh's bench approved the pre-arrest bail application, observing that there is no immediate necessity to take the petitioner into custodial interrogation for the years-old allegations. However, the court directed Mondal to strictly cooperate with the ongoing investigation and meet the investigating officer within the next 10 days.

The legal trouble stems from a complaint lodged regarding an incident where Mondal and his associates were accused of orchestrating the looting of bricks worth approximately Rs 30 lakh and vandalizing a brick kiln in Birbhum. Mondal had previously approached the Suri District Judge Court seeking anticipatory bail fearing arrest in the matter. However, the lower court rejected his application, prompting the leader to move the High Court for legal protection.

The High Court's order provides significant legal relief to Mondal, who faced a series of legal hurdles in recent years. While the court cleared the path for investigators to continue their probe without making an immediate arrest, Mondal must comply with all specified bail conditions to retain protection. The ruling ensures that law enforcement agencies proceed with the investigation through standard procedures while adhering to the court's directions.