Calcutta High Court extends BJP leader Mukul Roy's bail

After a lengthy hearing in a packed courtroom, the bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice M Mondal extended the bail to Roy from arrest till April 24.

Roy’s lawyers Phiroze Edulji and P S Patwari pleaded before the bench that the general elections were round the corner, seeking extension of his and permission to enter the district of Nadia, home to the slain legislator.

The public prosecutor Saswata Mukherjee opposed the bail, submitting a sealed envelope before the bench which he claimed carried the evidence of Roy’s links to the killing of the legislator.

The two-judge bench on February 13 granted anticipatory bail till March 7 to BJP leader Mukul Roy who was booked in the killing of Trinamool Congress state lawmaker Satyajit Biswas.

Roy, 64, moved the high court on Tuesday seeking the bail fearing arrest after he was named in a police complaint along with three others in the death of Biswas who was shot dead from behind on the eve of Saraswati Puja at a cultural programme near his home in Nadia district.

Biswas, 38, was legislator of Krishnagunj in Nadia district, about 120km north of Kolkata.

Two of the four suspects – Sujit Mondal and Kartick Mondal – were arrested in connection with the incident.

Roy's counsel Sabyasachi Dasgupta told the court, "There has been 16-17 cases, pending against my client at the high court. In none of these accusations against him proved correct. He has been implicated falsely in the case of the Trinamool Congress MLA's murder."

Roy, BJP national executive member, also met Union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday seeking enhancement of his security cover.

He submitted a letter to Singh stating that he may be attacked by Trinamool Congress activists.

At present, Roy gets protection by the Central paramilitary force personnel.