Calcutta High Court Orders House Arrest Of 4 TMC Leaders In Narada Case After Judges Disagree On Interim Bail

The Bench declined the requests made the TMC leaders' counsels for their release on interim bail until the matter is heard by a larger Bench. However, it has allowed the leaders to access files, meet officials but only through VC. "Whatever work they are doing for public, let it continue," it said.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit Banerjee which heard the matter at length on Wednesday has given conflicting opinions.

Whereas Justice Arijit Banerjee has passed an order allowing interim bail, ACJ Bindal has disagreed and said that the four arrested TMC leaders must be kept in house arrest. In view of the split, the matter has been referred to a larger bench.

Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the TMC leaders, expressed his shock at the order as it has been passed mid-way of the hearing. He urged that the leaders be released on interim bail till the matter is heard by the larger bench, which should be constituted today itself.

"The interim situation should be freedom. These are Ministers, MLAs. There is no possibility of flight risk. There has been no slightest allegation of them not cooperating with investigation," he submitted.

To this, Justice Banerjee replied :

"One of the members of the bench thought it fit to grant interim-bail. The other member of the bench did not agree. So, this point of interim bail has to be considered by the larger-bench. In the meantime, considering pandemic situation, house arrest has been given."

However, Singhvi pointed out that he made the interim bail plea at 4.30 pm on Wednesday when the court was about to rise; and the arguments were not complete.

If the choice is between full arrest and house arrest, it will be house arrest. But if the choice is between freedom and house-arrest, it will be freedom, he said.

He added that in case of house arrest, Ministers should also be given access to the files related to COVID work, vaccination etc.

Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyaya, who represented the leaders before the Trial Court, also submitted that the leaders' absence is affecting Covid-related work. He stated that Firhad Hakim is working 24*7 for COVID vaccination related matters and his presence is necessary for COVID work in Kolkata. "So necessary to give him access to files and permit him to meet officials," he urged.

He further pressed that the larger bench be constituted urgently and should hear the matter today at 2 PM itself, in the same spirit the High Court took up CBI's urgent plea against Trial Court order on May 17 at 5.30 PM.

Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing Sovan Chatterjee, submitted that the investigation is over and there is no requirement of custody. "Under what provision the custody will be given? Section 167?" he asked.

"This order was passed since interim bail plea was raised. Now it is surprising you are raising issues on merits after order," ACJ Bindal said.

Significantly, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for CBI also prayed for stay of the house arrest order.

He submitted that the Union has reservations about the Supreme Court judgement in Gautam Navalakha case, which has been relied on by the High Court to allow the house arrest of the TMC leaders.

The request was however declined. Complete minute-by-minute account of the hearing may be read here.

Background

The bench passed the stay order after a dramatic late night hearing held on the basis of a letter sent by the CBI seeking transfer of the case to the High Court citing "unprecedented mob pressure" exerted on the lower court by the mass protests led by Chief Minister and the Law Minister against the arrests of the TMC leaders.

On the next day, the TMC leaders filed applications seeking recall of the stay order on the ground that it was passed without issuing notice to them.

On May 19, the bench had heard Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the CBI, and Senior Advocates Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Sidharth Luthra for the arrested TMC leaders. Singhvi and Luthra had prayed for interim bail on the ground that the accused are aged persons having comorbidities. The bench was told that three of the arrested persons were shifted to hospital and one of them, Sovan Chatterjee continued to be in jail.

Click here to read/download the reference order passed on May 21

Click here to read/download the order passed by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal

Click here to read/download the order passed by Justice Arijit Banerjee

Reports of hearing on May 19 :

Narada Case : Why CBI Sought Police Custody After Filing Chargesheet? Luthra Asks In Calcutta High Court