Tarpaulins Theft Case: Calcutta High Court Refuses To Stay Probe Against BJP MLA & LOP In WB Assembly Suvendu Adhikari

The Calcutta High Court on Monday refused to stay police probe in connection with Tarpaulin theft in which leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal State Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari has been named as an accused in the related FIR.

The Bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh was hearing the plea of Adhikari who had sought quashing of an FIR registered by Contai police in which he and four others, including his brother Soumendu, have been accused of stealing tarpaulins from the civic body's godown on May 29.

The counsel appearing for Adhikari submitted that he has been falsely implicated in the case because of the fact that he has joined the rival political party and has subsequently been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly.

It may be noted that former TMC Minister and heavyweight leader Suvendu Adhikari had joined the BJP in December last year.

The senior advocate also submitted that there have been other instances of political leaders being falsely implicated in a number of cases who are opposed to the ruling political party in power and running the State Government.

Court's Order

The Court noted that that the Senior Counsel prayed for an interim order in respect of interference with the continuance of the proceedings or to stay the hands of the police in respect of the petitioners who are before this court in connection with the criminal proceedings which have been challenged.

Further, the Court said that it was not inclined to pass any interim order at the instant stage without perusal of the case diary and the materials collected by the investigating agency. The interim order prayed for is refused at this stage.

However, the Court granted the petitioners, the liberty to renew their prayer for an interim order on the next date fixed for hearing.

The Public Prosecutor who was present in court was directed to produce the case diary on the next date and the matter will appear for consideration on June 22, 2021 before the available Bench.

As reported by The Telegraph, Ratnadwip Manna, a Contai civic board member, had complained to Contai police that on May 29, a few armed men barged inside the civic body godown, picked up tarpaulins kept for aid, dumped them in a vehicle, and fled.

According to the complaint, two other members of the board, Himangshu Manna and Pratap De were with the men and they told him that the tarpaulins were taken on orders of Suvendu and Soumendu.

Case title - Suvendu Adhikari & Anr. v. The State West Bengal & Anr. 

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