The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to file its response to the anticipatory bail plea filed by Union Sports and Home Minister of State Nisith Pramanik in connection with an attempt to murder case [Nisith Pramanik vs State of West Bengal].A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal listed the matter for hearing on January 12, Friday after issuing notice.The matter arose after a Cooch Behar resident was shot at in 2018, allegedly at the behest of Pramanik, who is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.The police subsequently registered a criminal case against him for offences under the Arms Act and for attempt to murder. Pramanik then filed a plea for anticipatory bail before the Calcutta High Court, which on January 4 this year adjourned the matter.This led to the instant appeal before the apex court.At today's hearing, Justice Trivedi at the outset asked why the Minister had not moved the High Court for bail, and why the apprehension of arrest lay.
The counsel for the BJP leader, Senior Advocate PS Patwalia, highlighted repeated adjournments at the Circuit Bench of the High Court on grounds of letting the State government file its objections.
"The Magistrate after taking cognisance of the chargesheet issued a warrant against me. I am a Union Minister. It is a political case [lodged against me] after I shifted from the Trinamool Congress to the BJP," he added.The bench was initially inclined to list the matter on Monday after directing that a copy of the petition be served on the State government.However, after Patwalia pressed for interim protection till then, the Court proceeded to list the case tomorrow after issuing notice to the State of West Bengal.Pramanik's plea before the Supreme Court was filed through advocate Siddhesh Shirish Kotwal.
TAGS: Supreme Court of India Anticipatory Bail Calcutta High Court Arms ActAttempt to Murder Nisith Pramanik
