SC stays Calcutta HC order to reinstitute criminal cases against Mamata’s election agent

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the operation of a Calcutta High Court order to reinstitute criminal cases against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s election agent in reference to the Nandigram protests against land acquisition.

“Since the order which affects the petitioner (election agent) herein was passed without hearing him, we deem it appropriate to pass an interim order staying the operation of the order dated March 5, 2021,” a Bench led by Justice Indira Banerjee famous within the order.

The petitioner, S.K. Supian, has challenged the order handed by the Calcutta High Court on two Public Interest Litigations (PIL) against the withdrawal of prosecution in varied criminal cases related with the protests over the alleged improper acquisition of land by the State to create a particular financial zone (SEZ) in Nandigram.

Mr. Supian, represented by senior advocate Vikas Singh, has contended he was not made a celebration within the PILs and the reinstitution of the criminal cases has impaired his means to discharge his features as an election agent underneath the Representation of People Act, 1951.

Mr. Singh alleged {that a} PIL was “filed by a BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) person” within the High Court, which handed the interim order.

“By an interim order, the case was revived,” he stated, including, “I (petitioner) am the election agent of the Chief Minister and because of this order, I am virtually disabled.”

Mr. Singh submitted that the plea filed within the High Court was “politically motivated”.

Senior advocates A.M. Singhvi and Siddharth Luthra, showing for the State, opposed the High Court’s interim order.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, showing for a caveator who was a petitioner within the High Court, stated the petitions of the State and Mr. Supian must be dismissed with exemplary price as that they had “lied to this court”.