Supreme Court Grants Bail To TMC Leader Anubrata Mondal, Says Trial Unlikely To Commence Soon; Will Remain In Jail In ED Case

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma today granted bail to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to an alleged India-Bangladesh border cattle smuggling scam stating that the "trial is unlikely to commence soon".

However, Mondal will remain in jail as he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is also investigating the matter along with CBI.

At the outset, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Mondal, argued that they are yet to receive the English translation of documents including the charge sheet.

Rohatgi told the court that the documents are in Bengali and run into a thousand pages. On a previous occasion, Rohatgi had made the same argument pointing out that the translated documents have not been given to them.

However, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, opposing the bail, told the court that Mondal could influence the trial.

In response, Rohatgi argued that Mondal has been in jail since August 2022 and has suffered prolonged incarceration. He submitted that the court must grant him bail on the unlikelihood that the trial would commence soon.

Rohatgi also pointed out that the main kingpin has been granted bail by this court. Last year, the court had issued notices to the CBI to know the status of investigation. However, earlier this year, Rohatgi decried that the status of trial remains unknown. 

The court has imposed bail conditions on Mondal including that he must surrender his passport. He is also directed to corporate with the trial proceedings. 

Background

Anubrata Mondal, a prominent leader of West Bengal's Trinamool Congress and the Birbhum district president of the ruling party, is one of the accused believed to be involved in a multi-crore cattle smuggling ring, which allegedly involved smuggling cattle to Bangladesh through Birbhum.

The TMC leader's involvement in the alleged cattle smuggling ring is being investigated by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED. Mondal was arrested by the CBI in August 2022 and by the ED in November 2022. This year in January, the Calcutta High Court refused to grant him bail in the case lodged by the CBI. Later, Mondal was shifted to Tihar jail in the national capital, where he is currently lodged, from a local correctional home in Asansol.

Case Details: Anubrata Mondal @ Kesto v. Central Bureau of Investigation | Diary No. 33558 of 2023

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