Congress Candidate Milan Pradhan Sent to Judicial Custody Ahead of West Bengal By-Election

A court in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district on Monday sent Congress candidate for the Nandigram by-election Milan Pradhan to 14-day judicial custody in a case registered 19 years ago at Khejuri police station. The Kanthi court sent Pradhan to judicial custody till October 5. His lawyer Ayan Bhattacharya gave this information and said that he would challenge this order in the Calcutta High Court. Pradhan was earlier sent to judicial custody till October 3 by a court in Haldia on September 19 on several charges, including murder. These cases are related to the 2007 Nandigram land agitation. Due to these orders, Pradhan's chance to campaign in his favour is almost over. Campaigning for the October 6 by-election to the assembly seat vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will end on October 4. Adhikari had resigned from the Nandigram seat after defeating Mamata Banerjee in the assembly elections held earlier this year and had decided to represent the Bhabanipur seat. Mamata Banerjee had announced her support to him on the same day that he was contesting the Bhabanipur seat.