Basirhat BJP candidate moves Calcutta HC seeking remedy against arrest

The Sandeshkhali issue has resurfaced in the High Court, with Basirhat BJP candidate Rekha Patra seeking clarity on her legal standing. Patra approached the Calcutta High Court to ascertain the number and nature of cases filed against her. She also requested the court to prevent any strict actions being taken against her ahead of the Basirhat elections on June 1, where she is the BJP candidate.

In a related development, Sandeshkhali BJP leader Piyali alias Mampi Das also moved the High Court, seeking dismissal of an FIR against her. Both cases are expected to be heard by Justice Jai Sengupta on Thursday.

Das is a BJP Mahila Morcha functionary in Sandeshkhali. On Tuesday, Das was sent to judicial custody for eight days by a Basirhat court after surrendering in order to get bail. A complaint had been lodged against Piyali Das  by a "rape survivor" stating that the BJP member had coerced women into lodging false rape complaints.

However, Piyali said she had been falsely implicated and hadn't gone to Basirhat court to surrender she further labelled the allegations as false and baseless. "The FIR against Mampi was under bailable sections. That is why she chose to surrender. But we learnt later that additional non bailable sections were added," said Piyali's lawyer.