Legacy derailed
With the West Bengal Transport Minister, Snehasish Chakraborty, announcing, in end-September, the virtual closure of trams, Kolkata’s heritage transport system is now facing an existential crisis.
Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of Calcutta High Court set aside an arrest warrant against BJP leader Mukul Roy in connection with the alleged recovery of unaccounted cash from a person.
The warrant was issued by a city court on a plea by Kolkata Police to question him in connection with the alleged recovery of Rs 80 lakh from a person in Burrabazar area of the city last year.
The High Court directed that the original proceedings pertaining to the alleged recovery of the sum will continue before the city court. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Kolkata, had on 29 July issued the warrant against Roy on a prayer by the Burrabazar police station, alleging non-cooperation on Roy’s part in the investigation into the case.
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Appearing for Roy before the high court, senior counsel Bikash Bhattacharya submitted that since the BJP leader has already been questioned by police at his Delhi residence, there is no reason for the warrant to be in force.
Public prosecutor Saswatagopal Mukherjee submitted that the purpose of the arrest warrant has been served since he has already been interrogated, but the main proceedings before the lower court with regard to the recovery of the sum should continue.
The Delhi High Court had on 1 August granted Roy protection from coercive action for 10 days, on a plea by the BJP leader challenging the notices issued to him by the Kolkata Police to appear before it for questioning in the case.
While granting the relief to him, the Delhi High Court asked Roy to join the investigation into the case and be available for questioning. Roy was quizzed by officers of the Kolkata Police at his Delhi residence on 2 August.
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