SC seeks Bengal government's response to Union Minister Pramanik's anticipatory bail plea

Union Minister Nisith Pramanik has approached the SC for anticipatory bail in connection with a 2018 attempt to murder case in Cooch Behar, West Bengal. The SC, on Thursday, has requested the West Bengal government's response to Pramanik's plea while scheduling the matter for a hearing the following day. Pramanik, who expressed concerns about potential arrest, had his plea rejected by the Calcutta High Court on January 4, with the next hearing scheduled for January 22.

The Union Minister, citing his status as a Member of Parliament and a Union minister, revealed that an arrest warrant was issued against him in March 2023, further emphasizing the political nature of the case since his shift from the ruling Trinamool Congress to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The SC bench, comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal, questioned Pramanik's lawyer PS Patwalia on the anticipation of arrest, suggesting recourse to the high court where the case is pending. Patwalia argued that the situation in West Bengal is politically charged, given Pramanik's party switch, and clarified that his client has not been named in the charge sheet nor summoned since the complaint was filed.

The case, involving 36 accused, stems from an attack on Cooch Behar resident Fajlu Munshi, with charges under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to attempt to murder, causing grievous hurt, wrongful restraint, criminal conspiracy, and the Arms Act. Pramanik asserted that his liberty is at risk due to the fear of arrest, challenging the high court's order that he claims hinders his chance of seeking protection. He questioned the validity of the arrest warrant, highlighting Supreme Court orders requiring a trial judge to issue summons followed by bailable warrants before resorting to arrest.