Narada Scam Case Hearing : CBI vs TMC MLAs - Live Updates From Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court is hearing the CBI's case against the bail granted to TMC leaders Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Subrata Mukherjee and Souvan Chatterjee in the #NaradaScam case.A bench of Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijeet Banerjee is hearing an application by CBI to transfer the bail applications from the Special CBI Court to the High Court, citing the "unprecedented...
Calcutta High Court is hearing the CBI's case against the bail granted to TMC leaders Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Subrata Mukherjee and Souvan Chatterjee in the #NaradaScam case.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijeet Banerjee is hearing an application by CBI to transfer the bail applications from the Special CBI Court to the High Court, citing the "unprecedented mob pressure" exerted by the protests of Chief Minister Mamanata Banerjee and Law Minister Moloy Ghatak.
The bench is also hearing the applications filed by the arrested TMC leaders seeking recall of the stay order passed by the High Court on May 17.
Stay on this page for live updates from the hearing.
Hearing over for the day. Bench to continue the hearing tomorrow at 2 PM.
Solicitor General says the accused are under 24-hours medical supervision.
Hearing over for the day. Bench to continue the hearing tomorrow at 2 PM.
SG : In a transfer application, only the prosecution and accused are the parties. So State is not a necessary party. Nonetheless, I will serve the copy on the AG.
Luthra says his client Sovan Chatterjee is in custody and he is a COPD patient and a high-risk case for COVID.
He is not an MLA and not a person in power, Luthra says.
Advocate General Kishore Dutta says CBI has not made State a party in the application though allegations of law and order breakdown are raised.
AG says Kolkata police has given all assistance to the CBI.
Counsel : CBI asked for police custody. The Magistrate asked them thrice if they were asking police custody. CBI said yes. Later they changed the stand during the course of hearing.
Counsel : In the remand application, there is not a single whisper about law and order situation.
Another counsel : CBI sought for sanction from Governor in the month of January 2021, when the government was there. Sanction given on 9th May
Counsel : If the Governor keeps the matter for five months, what is the need for custody now?
Luthra : If you have not arrested a person for four years, there must be some justification.
Singhvi says that the accused deserve to be outside.
Luthra : On the day of filing chargesheet, they were arrested. Police custody is needed only for investigation. Where is the question of police custody after chargesheet?
Luthra : You have not arrested us for four years. Where is the need for arrest on the day of filing chargesheet?
Singhvi : Accused are in hospital. Where can they run away?
Luthra adds that the investigation against the accused are over and chargesheet has been filed.
Luthra says voice samples of four accused were collected and sent to Forensic test. Luthra highlights that the prayer made by CBI is for further investigation against other remaining accused.
Bench is now back to the case.
Acting CJ : Let us continue tomorrow because it will not be over today.
Singhvi makes a prayer for interim bail.