Ex-Marxist MP gets bail in Nandigram case

Former Communist Party of India-Marxist MP Lakshman Seth, arrested for alleged involvement in the disappearance of six persons in Nandigram in 2007, was on Friday granted bail by the Calcutta high court after remaining in custody for 118 days.

A division bench comprising justices Ashim Kumar Roy and Tafiq Uddin granted bail to the former Haldia strongman on a bond of Rs 60,000.

Seth was directed by the court not to enter East Midnapore district, under which Haldia and Nandigram falls, till further orders and to appear before the investigating officer twice a week.

Seth was arrested on March 17 from a Mumbai guesthouse by the West Bengal CID along with two others, former CPI-M MLA Ashok Guria and CPI(M) district committee member Amiya Sahu.

The CID came into the picture when the high court directed it to investigate the case of six missing Trinamool workers following habeas corpus petitions by their family members after the Mamata Banerjee government came to power in West Bengal.

The three were accused of abduction and murder in connection with the attack on a peace rally by Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) on November 10, 2007 during the infamous 'recapture' of Nandigram.

The CID had filed a charge sheet on January 30 before the Haldia sub-divisional court naming the former MP and party heavyweight in the area, and 87 other local CPI-M leaders of Nandigram and adjoining Khejuri blocks.