Calcutta HC orders house arrest of four leaders held in Narada case

KOLKATA:  A two-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered the house arrest of three Trinamool Congress MLAs, including two ministers, and a former mayor of Kolkata, who were arrested by the CBI in connection with the Narada sting operation case. 

The order stipulated that their bail plea will be heard from Monday by a larger bench of the court.  The court passed the order after a difference of opinion split the two-member bench. While Justice Arijit Banerjee passed an order allowing interim bail, Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal disagreed and ordered house arrest.

The court, in its order, said the two ministers will only be allowed virtual access to officials from their respective departments during the period of house arrest. “We direct that the officials will not have any direct access to the accused.However, they are permitted to deal with the files sent to them online and hold meetings through video conferencing.

A complete log of the video conferencing along with the details of the persons with whom it was held and the purpose, thereof, shall be maintained. The video conferencing facility shall not be used for any other purpose,’’ the order says. 

The court also ordered that a record be made of those visiting the houses of the accused during the period of house arrest. The jail authorities have been directed to install CCTVs at the entry points of the residences of the accused. In the petition, MLA Firhad Hakim’s lawyer said he was playing a key role in Kolkata’s fight against Covid-19, and considering the present situation, he be granted bail. The court turned down the prayer.