SC notice to CBI on bail plea of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal in cattle-smuggling case
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court sought the CBI's response on Monday on a bail plea moved by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal, who has been arrested in connection with a cattle-smuggling case.
A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought its reply within two weeks on the plea.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing in the court on behalf of Mondal, submitted that five chargesheets have been filed in the case and everybody is out of jail except the TMC leader.
"I have spent 14 months in jail. The main kingpin was also granted bail by a bench headed by the chief justice," Rohatgi said.
The Calcutta High Court rejected Mondal's bail plea in January.
Mondal had prayed for bail, submitting that he was in custody for more than 145 days.
Holding that further investigation into the alleged amassing of illegal wealth by Mondal was continuing, the high court had said releasing him on bail at this stage would adversely affect the morale and confidence of the witnesses and seriously impact the collection of evidence.
Denying bail to Mondal, a division bench of the high court presided over by Justice Joymalya Bagchi had observed that he continued to hold a powerful political post and had an overwhelming influence not only in the society but also on the state administration.
Opposing Mondal's bail plea, it was alleged by the CBI that as a powerful political personality, the TMC leader had illegally aided and abetted cattle smuggler Enamul Haque and used his influence to ensure a smooth passage of cattle through Birbhum and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal to reach the international border in lieu of wrongful gains.
Representing Mondal, senior counsel Kapil Sibal had submitted that the main accused, Enamul Haque, and co-accused Satish Kumar, a senior Border Security Force (BSF) officer at the time of his arrest, were out on bail.
The CBI had claimed that Mondal was the main facilitator for a smooth transportation of cattle through Birbhum district to Bangladesh.
Mondal's counsel had stated that no such evidence was found.
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BJP disassociates itself with Nishikant Dubey's criticism of Supreme Court, says it respects courts
New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI): The BJP on Saturday disassociated itself with the sharp criticism of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna by its MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma, with party president J P Nadda rejecting the comments as their personal views.
"The BJP has nothing to do with the comments of MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the judiciary and the chief justice. This is their personal comments, but the BJP neither agrees with them nor does it ever support such remarks. The BJP absolutely rejects them," Nadda said in a post on X.
He said the BJP has always respected the judiciary and has accepted its suggestions and orders gladly because it believes as a party all the courts, including the apex court, are an inseparable part of our democracy.
Nadda also said that he has directed both the leaders and others to not make such comments.
Fourth-term BJP MP Dubey, one of the more vocal party members in the Lok Sabha, launched a broadside against the Supreme Court earlier, saying Parliament and state assemblies should be closed down if the apex court has to make the laws.
He also took a swipe at CJI Khanna.
भाजपा सांसद निशिकांत दुबे और दिनेश शर्मा का न्यायपालिका एवं देश के चीफ जस्टिस पर दिए गए बयान से भारतीय जनता पार्टी का कोई लेना–देना नहीं है। यह इनका व्यक्तिगत बयान है, लेकिन भाजपा ऐसे बयानों से न तो कोई इत्तेफाक रखती है और न ही कभी भी ऐसे बयानों का समर्थन करती है। भाजपा इन बयान…
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 19, 2025
