Kolkata, September 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has alleged that West Bengal Police pressured him to withdraw his nomination for the upcoming Nandigram Assembly bypoll, claiming he was taken to a hotel and asked to pull out of the contest.
Pradhan, who was arrested earlier this month in connection with a 2007 murder case, made the allegations after being released from the correctional home in Haldia, East Midnapore district, on Wednesday.
The Calcutta High Court had granted him interim bail on Tuesday, allowing him relief until October 20. He was released after completing the required paperwork and formalities.
Speaking to the media after his release, Pradhan alleged that some police officers in civilian clothes picked him up from Chandipur on September 18 while he was campaigning.
“Some police officers in civil dress picked me up from Chandipur while I was campaigning,” Pradhan said.
He alleged that the officers blindfolded him and took him by car to a hotel in Mandarmani, where he was asked to withdraw his nomination. According to Pradhan, he was also offered anything he wanted in return for withdrawing from the electoral contest.
Pradhan further claimed that he was not formally arrested at that stage.
“When I refused to withdraw my nomination, I was taken back to Chandipur and officially arrested there,” he alleged.
The East Midnapore district police had not issued a response to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
Commenting on the state government’s reported decision to approach the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court’s interim bail order, Pradhan said he believed the move would not succeed before the apex court.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court had granted Pradhan interim bail until October 20 on Tuesday.
The Nandigram Assembly bypoll, along with the Rejinagar bypoll in Murshidabad district, is scheduled for October 6. Counting of votes will take place on October 9.
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