Calcutta HC rejects CBI plea for cancellation of bail to Madan Mitra

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday rejected CBI’s prayer for cancellation of bail to Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra.

A division Bench comprising justices Nishita Mhatre and Tapash Mookherjee rejected CBI’s plea for cancellation of bail granted to Mitra, a former transport minister of West Bengal, by a sessions court.

Seeking cancellation of bail to Mitra, the counsel submitted before the court that the former minister was an influential person and that there was possibility of his influencing eyewitnesses.

Earlier, the date of hearing on Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea to cancel his bail was rejected by the court.

However, the source close to the development said, CBI is now convinced that Madan Mitra is no longer an influential person who can hamper the investigation of Saradha scam.

Mitra was released on bail after spending two years in correctional home following his arrest in connection with Saradha Group scam.

Though he is staying in a hotel in Bhowanipore as per the direction of the Alipore Court, he had expressed his wish in media to be with his family members during Durga Puja.

CBI had several times appealed before the court that Mitra, a former minister and senior politician, could hamper the investigation of Saradha scam.

It will be recalled that Alipore Court had granted the bail to Mitra on September 9 of this year.

This is not the first time when Mitra was given bail. On October 31, 2015, Mitra was given bail by the lower court. But it was later rejected by the High Court in November 2015. Thus, Mitra had to walk into correctional home once again.