A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court has provided interim protection to Jahangir Khan, the Trinamool Congress candidate from the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal. This protection shields Khan from any coercive police actions, including arrest, until the repoll process is concluded and the results are announced. The repolling in the constituency is set for May 21, with result declarations scheduled for May 24.
Earlier, Khan sought anticipatory bail from Justice Saugata Bhattacharya to avoid potential arrest before the repoll. The court, after an urgent hearing, granted Khan protection from coercive police actions, emphasizing the need for him to have a fair chance to participate in the election. This interim safeguard covers all FIRs filed against Khan, which currently total five, with charges related to alleged voter intimidation and electoral irregularities during the April 29 polling in Falta.
Justice Bhattacharya highlighted the importance of allowing Khan to contest the election fairly and clarified that the protection extends to all FIRs against him. Khan’s legal counsel argued during the hearing that the FIRs were based on false allegations, expressing concerns about his client’s potential arrest before the repoll. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled before a vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court on May 26.
Complaints of electoral malpractices, including covering EVM buttons corresponding to BJP candidates with white tape, surfaced in Falta on April 29. Following an inquiry by special poll observer Subrata Gupta, the Election Commission of India ordered repolling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency. The repolling is slated for May 21, with result announcements expected on May 24.
