Madan Mitra released from Alipore jail after brief delay

Mitra had to check into and spend the day at a hotel on Elgin road and could not go home due to some goof up by his lawyers who mistakenly told the court that his house falls under Bhowanipore police station area.

Hence the court had asked Mitra to stay within the Bhowanipore police station area whereas his residence falls under Kalighat police station. After his release Mitra told the media that he had 

full faith in the judiciary and he would also co-operate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as he had been doing for the past two years. He also expressed his happiness as he will be able to spend precious time with his family members.

“I am very happy and will spend time with my family. I will abide all the conditions of the court as I am civilised. Time will prove that I am innocent. Now, I will take complete rest and enjoy my time with my family members and enjoy Durga Puja. In last two years I could not take part in 

Durga Puja,” Mitra said after his release.

Mitra’s lawyer has said that they would appeal to the court so that he could go to his residence.

“Because the court is closed today (Saturday) the plea will be made next week,” Mitra’s counsel said. On the other hand the CBI has decided to move to the Calcutta High Court challenging lower court’s order.

According to the lawyer representing the CBI, the agency failed to convince the court that Mitra is a prominent person and belongs to a party which is in power in the state. Hence it does not matter whether he is a minister or not a minister.

A person like him whose party is in power could easily hamper the process of investigation by influencing the witnesses. It may be mentioned here that Alipore Court rejected the CBI’s pleas for denying Mitra’s bail on the ground of him being an influential person. Mitra’s counsels convinced the Court that there was no such development by the CBI in the investigation.

Mitra on Saturday also expressed his grief saying that he was not allowed to campaign at Kamarhati during the assembly elections early this year.

“I have been doing politics for many years but I never thought that I would have to spend so many months in prison on charges of corruption. I cannot accept that I am a thief. This had pained me,” Mitra said.