Baruipur Court grants conditional bail to Arabul

Kolkata: The Baruipur Court on Monday granted conditional bail to Trinamool Congress leader of Bhangar Arabul Islam. He was arrested on May 11, three days before the Panchayat polls in Bengal, in connection with the murder of a supporter of an independent candidate in the area.

Arabul has been granted bail 72 days after his arrest. However, he will not be able to enter the jurisdiction of Bhangar and Kashipur police

station area, as per conditions imposed by the court. He was arrested on charges of murder of one Hafizul Mollah, while the latter was campaigning in support of an independent candidate.

It was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had directed the police to arrest Arabul, as soon as allegations of the latter's involvement in the murder surfaced.

Interestingly, Mollah's wife Sabira Bibi had submitted an affidavit at the Baruipur Court some days ago, stating that Arabul was not involved in the murder of her husband.

The counsel appearing for Arabul prayed before the

court for bail, citing the

affidavit. The judge granted him

conditional bail against the payment of a personal bond of Rs 20,000. Islam, however, did not appear before the court due to illness.

Arabul had won the Bhangar 2 Panchayat Samiti seat, though he was in police custody on May 14, when the Panchayat polls were held.

It may be mentioned that Arabul had always claimed his innocence in the entire event and had said that he was not present in the spot when the incident took place.